Couple charged after alleged overnight break-in and Empire State Building antenna climb, officials say
A daredevil couple who scaled the Empire State Building’s spire have been charged with multiple felonies after prosecutors allege they secretly entered the landmark, spent the night inside, and breached secured areas to reach the antenna, officials said.
Angelina Nikolau, 33, and Ivan Kuznetsov, 32, were taken into custody following Wednesday’s climb and charged in Manhattan Criminal Court with burglary, reckless endangerment and other offenses. The pair did not enter pleas and were released on supervised conditions. They are due back in court in August.
Investigators allege the couple entered the building on Tuesday using tickets, then remained inside overnight before accessing restricted upper levels early Wednesday morning. Security footage reportedly showed them moving through a hatch on the 102nd floor before reaching higher sections of the structure.
Authorities said access to the 104th floor antenna area appeared to have been forced, with a lock damaged during the incident. Officials also said tools may have been used to loosen fixtures in order to reach a stairwell leading to the spire.
The situation prompted a temporary shutdown of the building’s broadcast antenna before emergency responders could safely approach. Officials said the system emits powerful radio signals and had to be powered down for about 30 minutes due to safety concerns.
Once on the structure, the couple remained briefly at the top, unfurled a banner referencing a Jimi Hendrix quote, and later descended before being taken into custody. Kuznetsov, who also goes by Ivan Beerkus, reportedly proposed to Nikolau during the incident, and the pair later appeared in court wearing the same clothing from the climb.
They left court smiling and holding hands, posing for photos and sharing a kiss while declining detailed comment on the charges or allegations. Their attorney said the case was being “overcharged” and suggested the stunt was meant as a symbolic or artistic act, while prosecutors described it as dangerous and deliberate.
Investigators believe the couple may have observed building procedures in advance and used a worker entrance to bypass security. The case remains under investigation.
Comments
Post a Comment