Summary:
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Two climbers scale Empire State Building antenna, unfurl banner about love and peace, and get engaged before arrest.
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Climbers identified as Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus; known for rooftopping stunts and featured in Netflix documentary.
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Empire State Building states no danger to visitors, while former FBI Deputy Director warns of recklessness and potential charges.
Two people climbed to the top of the Empire State Building’s antenna in New York City on Wednesday, unfurled a banner about love and peace, and appeared to get engaged before being taken into custody, according to reporting from The Associated Press and CNN.
The masked pair, dressed in black and without visible safety tethers, balanced on a narrow ledge atop the antenna, which rises 1,454 feet above midtown Manhattan. The banner they fastened to the spire read, “When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace.” The message is a variation on a quote frequently attributed to guitarist Jimi Hendrix, though ABC News reported it originated with 19th-century British politician William Gladstone.
The climbers have been identified as Angela Nikolau, 33, and Ivan Beerkus, 32, according to the New York Police Department. Just after 12:30 p.m., the couple began climbing down the latticework of metal to a wider ledge, where one appeared to propose to the other. Nikolau posted photos and video from the climb on Instagram, including a shot of an engagement ring with the city skyline behind it. Police took the two into custody shortly after 1 p.m., and said they were detained without incident. Charges are pending and the investigation is ongoing.
It was not immediately clear how the pair reached the antenna, which sits well above the public areas of the 102-story building. Nikolau and Beerkus are known for so-called rooftopping stunts and were profiled in the 2024 Netflix documentary “Skywalkers: A Love Story,” which follows the couple as they scale skyscrapers around the world, often with little safety equipment.
In a statement, the Empire State Building said there was at no time any danger to tenants, visitors, or observation deck guests, and noted that its observation deck offers a legal option for those planning marriage proposals. Daredevils have made unauthorized climbs of the building before. In 2023, actor and musician Jared Leto was permitted to climb to the base of the antenna from the 86th floor to promote a tour.
Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe told CNN the stunt placed city officials, police, and building owners in a difficult position, and said authorities would likely pursue appropriate charges to discourage copycats. “The danger here, the recklessness, is obvious and can’t be overstated,” he said.
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