Two arrested after climbing to top of Empire State Building
· UPIJuly 1 (UPI) -- Two people were in custody after they climbed to the top of the Empire State Building antenna Wednesday, the New York Police Department said.
Charges were pending.
The climbers unfurled a banner that read "When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace." One climber also appeared to propose to the other while on a platform a little below the spire, WABC-TV reported. Both were wearing black clothing and face coverings.
WABC-TV identified the climbers as Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus.
Nikolau's Instagram account features photos and videos of the incident Wednesday. Many of the posts feature Nikolau and Beerkus at the top of various tall buildings throughout the world.
Nikolau's account identifies her as a "neoartist exploring identity, fear and freedom" and says: "My dream is to push the boundaries of what's acceptable in art."
The top of the spire and antenna is 1,454 feet in the air, well over public areas of the 102-story building.
Andrew McCabe, former FBI deputy director, said the stunt put officials in "a tough spot," CNN reported.
"They are going to have to do whatever they can to see that these people are prosecuted for any appropriate charges because they cannot take the chance that others will see this and also decide to try it," McCabe said. "The last thing that people who are responsible for the Empire State Building want is to turn this place into a target for that sort of activity, because ultimately it will end in some sort of tragedy.
"The danger here, the recklessness, is obvious and can't be overstated," he said.
Empire State Building officials released a statement that said there was at no time any danger to tenants and other visitors at the building.
"It is to be emphasized that the Empire State Building Observation Deck, atop the World's Most Famous Building in the center of New York City, does offer a practical way for the most memorable marriage proposals," the statement added.
It was not clear Wednesday afternoon how the pair managed to get outside and onto the top of the antenna.
Nikolau and Beerkus were featured in Skywalkers: A Love Story, a 2024 documentary.