- Climber couple arrested after scaling the Empire State Building's antenna and unfurling a banner about “the power of love” at midday Wednesday.
- The incident was apparently part of an audacious, high-altitude marriage proposal.
- The climbers, identified as Angelina Nikolau and Ivan Kuznetsov, face charges of burglary, reckless endangerment, and others.
- The banner they displayed read, “when the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace”.
- Bodycam footage shows officers arresting the couple after they scaled the antenna.
- Building management stated that the episode was unauthorized and did not endanger anyone in the skyscraper.
Two climbers, Angelina Nikolau and Ivan Kuznetsov, made headlines after scaling the Empire State Building's antenna on Wednesday, unfurling a banner proclaiming, “when the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace.”3
The couple's ascent, which occurred at midday, was met with swift police action, resulting in their arrest on charges of burglary and reckless endangerment.
Building management described the act as “unauthorized” but confirmed that it did not endanger anyone within the skyscraper.6
It remains unclear how the couple accessed the antenna, which is located well above public areas of the 102-story building. Witnesses reported that after unfurling the banner, the couple embraced and took selfies before being apprehended.
This incident has sparked discussions about security measures at one of New York City's most iconic landmarks, raising questions about how such a breach could occur without detection.
The Empire State Building, standing at 1,454 feet (443 meters), is a popular tourist destination, and this event has drawn attention to the need for enhanced safety protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future.
“Two climbers were arrested after scaling the Empire State Building's antenna and unfurling a marriage proposal banner. The incident was deemed unauthorized by building management.”
AP News
