Overview

• Rot-Weiss Essen discovered saw and angle‑grinder marks on the bronze figure on Oct. 3 and filed a report that day.
• The cuts are concentrated on the lower legs, consistent with an effort to sever the monument for removal, according to local reports.
• Club spokesman Henrik Lerch called the idea of damaging the memorial to steal it intolerable.
• Uwe Rahn said he hopes the act is clarified and warned that repairs will likely be extensive.
• The Inka Uzoma sculpture, unveiled in 2004 and placed at the stadium in 2014, stands on Helmut‑Rahn‑Platz, with media noting metal‑theft patterns as context not confirmed by police.