A couple breached security Wednesday, climbed to the top of the Empire State Building spire, unfurled a banner about 1,450 feet above New York City, and staged what appeared to be a marriage proposal before police took them into custody.
The security breach at one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks occurred around noon.
The incident came amid heightened security in New York following weeks of increased police presence after the New York Knicks’ first championship in 53 years prompted large, and at times destructive, celebrations. Authorities also have increased security ahead of FIFA World Cup-related events and the expected wedding celebration of pop star Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce at Madison Square Garden.
Law enforcement officials identified the two masked climbers as Angela Nikolau and Ivan Kuznetsov. Officials said the pair will face multiple charges related to the incident, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Investigators later determined that Nikolau and Kuznetsov are well-known stunt performers. Authorities are still investigating how the pair gained access to a restricted area closed to the public.
The couple, who live in New Jersey, are facing charges including burglary, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, criminal tampering, criminal trespass and other offenses, according to the NYPD Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Public Information.
Angela Nikolau, 33, posted photos and videos of the climb on Instagram, including an image of her engagement ring with the New York skyline in the background.
Her climbing partner, Ivan Kuznetsov, 32, who also goes by Ivan Beerkus, appeared to propose during the stunt. The couple was featured in the Netflix documentary “Skywalkers: A Love Story.”
Netflix declined to comment.
At the top of the building’s antenna Wednesday afternoon, the pair unfurled a banner reading: “When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace.”
The video of the apparent proposal quickly spread across social media. “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,” Andrew George McCabe, former Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), said. “The danger here, the recklessness, is obvious and can’t be overstated,” McCabe, in CNN’s expert commentary, added.
Authorities have not said how the pair gained access to the top of the 1,454-foot landmark. The Empire State Building’s antenna carries broadcast signals for most of New York City’s local television and radio stations.
Despite extensive security, New York’s skyscrapers have long attracted trespassing climbers seeking high-profile stunts.
