Empire State Constructing climbers arrested after obvious proposal stunt – NBC New York
Two individuals had been taken into NYPD custody after climbing to the highest of the Empire State Constructing, the place they unfurled a big banner atop the enduring Manhattan landmark.
The harmful trespassing stunt seemed to be an act of affection.
Police acquired 911 calls round 12 p.m. Wednesday, when the death-defying duo had been first noticed 1,454 toes within the air on the highest of the constructing’s antenna. Each had been wearing black clothes and face coverings.
The trespassing duo fixed the banner with massive white lettering to the antenna: “When the ability of affection beats the love of energy, the world is aware of peace.”
After roughly half-hour atop the tower, the pair started climbing down the spire and onto a platform the place they embraced. One of many trespassers appeared to suggest to the opposite.
Roughly 10 minutes later, they started descending the remainder of the spire. Bodycam video confirmed officers meet them on the backside of the ladder, and so they had been taken into custody shortly after.
The person and girl who had been atop the constructing had been later recognized as Ivan Kuznetsov and Angelina Nikolau. The couple are the identical pair behind a documentary referred to as “Skywalkers: A Love Story,” displaying them pull off comparable stunts on skyscrapers throughout the globe. The so-called rooftopping documentary follows the Russian nationals Nikolau and Kuznetsov (who goes by Ivan Beerkus) who typically are filmed climbing buildings with little to no security gear.
Nikolau and Kuznetsov had been each charged with felony housebreaking, reckless endangerment and felony mischief. Each additionally face misdemeanor fees of felony tampering, trespassing, disorderly conduct and possession of burglars instruments. Lawyer info for the pair was not instantly out there.
It wasn’t clear how the pair gained entry to the antenna, which rises nicely above public areas of the 102-story constructing.
A spokesperson for the Empire State Constructing referred to as Wednesday’s incident “unauthorized,” however famous that there was no hazard to constructing tenants, guests or statement deck visitors at any time. The spokesperson additionally made a tongue-in-cheek joke in regards to the incident, saying the constructing “does supply a sensible means for essentially the most memorable marriage proposals.”
The Empire State Constructing Statement Deck additionally poked enjoyable on the incident, apologizing on X to Madison Sq. Backyard — the place Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are rumored to be getting married on Friday — as a result of “I needed to make this week all about me.”
The constructing appeared to stay open throughout the incident. An worker informed NBC New York she couldn’t determine how the climbers managed to get to the highest of the landmark.
“I do not know the way — at first I believed they tried to scale the skin of the constructing. However we might have heard about that,” an worker named Sydney mentioned.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
