The U.S. Embassy in Bratislava will be moved to a different building, reports the Prague Post, due to long-term security concerns over the building. The news is likely to be welcome by residents of the city, who have had to give the building a wide berth since shortly after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in 2001 as a security fence was erected around the building. The fence extends out into Hviezdoslav Square in the heart of the city’s old town, reducing freedom of movement and acting generally as an eyesore. Last year, the U.S. Embassy asked the city for an extension of its 10-year lease of the building, so the announcement that a new building is being sought came to many as a surprise. Bratislava’s mayor welcomed the news as he believes the fence devalues the square.
