Overview
- The pair scaled the Empire State Building’s 1,454-foot antenna on Wednesday, unfurled a banner reading “When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace,” and one climber appeared to propose during the descent.
- NYPD Emergency Services Unit officers took the two into custody without injury and released body-camera footage showing the arrest and the department’s response.
- Authorities identified the climbers as Ivan Kuznetsov (also known as Ivan Beerkus), 32, and Angelina Nikolau, 33, and charged them with counts including burglary, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, criminal trespass and possession of burglar’s tools.
- Investigators say preliminary evidence points to access through an upper-floor hatch on the 102nd–104th floor range and to possible premeditated entry or overnight concealment, and the Manhattan DA is preparing criminal complaints.
- Building officials said visitors were never in danger, workers inspected antenna equipment and some local broadcasts briefly shifted to backup sites, and the episode raises questions about security at major landmarks and potential legal consequences for the couple.