1 hour ago
Two Russian “rooftoppers” who staged an evident marriage proposal astatine nan highest of nan Empire State Building’s spire were reportedly arraigned successful New York connected Thursday connected a slew of charges including reckless endangerment.
Angela Nikolau and Ivan Kuznetsov were arrested connected Wednesday aft nan stunt, which featured nan pair, dressed successful each black, unfurling a bid banner and kissing.
They spent nan first nighttime of their reported engagement successful abstracted cells adjacent to little Manhattan’s New York City criminal court, wherever they were scheduled to look astatine 9am EST connected Thursday charged pinch burglary, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, criminal trespass, criminal tampering, disorderly conduct, and possession of burglar’s tools.
Nikolau, 33, and Kuznetsov, a 32-year-old besides known arsenic Ivan Beerkus, are Russian nationals who stock an reside successful New Jersey, records show. They are salient practitioners of nan underground thrill-seeking activity of “rooftopping”, successful which self-styled municipality outlaws standard skyscrapers and different gangly buildings to return breathtaking photographs and video, aliases make governmental statements.
Kuznetsov’s Instagram account, @beerkus, has much than half a cardinal followers, while that of his partner has 1.8 million.
After reaching nan Empire State Building’s 1,454ft (443 metres) acme connected Wednesday lunchtime, nan brace – who reportedly person undertaken akin adventures successful China and California, unfolded a ample achromatic emblem reading: “When nan powerfulness of emotion thumps nan emotion of powerfulness nan world knows peace.”
Investigators are moving to find really nan brace scaled nan last stages of nan landmark building, which opened successful 1931 arsenic nan world’s tallest, and featured successful nan climax of nan blockbuster movie King Kong 2 years later.
The pair’s stunt was monitored by a New York constabulary section drone and helicopter, and they were arrested by members of nan department’s elite emergency work unit, which specializes successful rescues astatine altitude.
In a statement, nan owners of nan Empire State Building said they preferred couples successful emotion and seeking to go engaged to travel a much orthodox route.
“It is to beryllium emphasized that nan Empire State Building Observation Deck, atop nan World’s Most Famous Building successful nan halfway of New York City, does connection a applicable measurement for nan astir memorable matrimony proposals,” nan connection said.
