00:02Did you see this? Two climbers reached the top of the Empire State Building's antenna, or spire, on Wednesday, nearly
00:091,500 feet above midtown Manhattan.
00:13They unfurled a black banner about love and peace, then appeared to get engaged before specially trained officers got up
00:19there and arrested them.
00:21The message from police was shorter. Well, you can't be up here.
00:25The climbers go by Angela Nikolaou and Ivan Birkus. Police identified them by their formal names, Angelina Nikolaou and Ivan
00:33Kuznetsov.
00:34The two are known for high-rise stunts around the world and were featured in the 2024 Netflix documentary Skywalkers,
00:42A Love Story.
00:43News helicopter videos showed them dressed in black, wearing masks and balancing on the structure without tethers or ropes or
00:50nets.
00:50After several minutes on the structure, they collected the banner and started down.
00:55Video showed one of them getting on one knee on a lower platform. The two then kissed and hugged.
01:01Police sent an emergency services unit to the building. They cleared the observation deck as officers responded.
01:07Body cam video showed officers climbing up to meet the couple before arresting them on burglary, reckless endangerment, and criminal
01:15trespass, as well as other charges.
01:16Police say the banner was recovered. It was not immediately clear how the pair reached the top, which rises above
01:23the building's public areas.
01:25The Empire State Building said the stunt was unauthorized, but tenants and visitors were never in danger.
01:31The building also noted its observation deck offers a more practical way to make a memorable proposal.
01:38By the way, watching this on national TV yesterday, I can tell you I was getting dizzy just watching the
01:45helicopter coverage.
01:46Wow. I mean, they were way, way up there. How dangerous.
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