Daredevil Couple Awaiting Arraignment After Empire State Building Stunt and Proposal
Empire State Building climbers engaged
Two daredevil climbers identified by the NYPD as Angelina Nikolau and Ivan Kuznetsov are awaiting arraignment following a high-altitude stunt at the Empire State Building. The couple, who gained notoriety in a documentary about their exploits, were taken into custody after scaling the skyscraper’s transmission antenna.
The incident began around noon when the pair, wearing masks but lacking safety equipment, climbed the building’s spire to unfurl a black banner reading, “When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace”. After reaching the top, the couple moved to a lower ledge where Kuznetsov appeared to propose to Nikolau before they were apprehended by the police’s elite Emergency Service Unit. Authorities believe the duo gained unauthorized access to the spire via a maintenance hatch.
The couple now faces a series of serious charges, including burglary, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, criminal trespass, and possession of burglar’s tools. Building management noted that the unauthorized climb did not endanger tenants or visitors, though the event triggered a large-scale police response that briefly shut down surrounding streets.
