Letters Missing From Bridge Collapse Memorial

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak says an act of vandalism against the new Interstate 35W bridge collapse memorial does not erase the community's compassionate response to that disaster.

Rybak says Wednesday what happened is a "single act of stupidity." Several dozen stainless steel letters were ripped off the memorial, just days after it was dedicated on the fourth anniversary of the Aug. 1 collapse.

Rybak says the city believes what happened was vandalism and not an accident. The contractor has removed the remaining letters until they can be replaced.

It could take three weeks or more to make repairs.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)