Stolen Medieval Fresco Sparks Security Overhaul in Bratislava‑Nova

At 07:45, guard Mateo Alvarez entered the east wing of the Bratislava‑Nova Town Hall and stopped short when the gilded frame that had housed the fresco of Saint Wenceslaus was empty.

The fresco, a rare 15th‑century tempera work commissioned by the original city council, had been the centerpiece of a three‑year restoration funded jointly by the Federal Heritage Office and the Nord‑Europa Regional Assembly.

Police units from Meridian arrived within the hour, sealing off the hall while forensic teams catalogued the scene. Chief Inspector László Varga of the Federal Police confirmed that no forced entry was evident, suggesting inside involvement.

The mayor’s office announced an emergency review of security protocols and a request for additional funding to upgrade alarm systems, a step that will be debated in the next Nord‑Europa Assembly session.