Two Russian nationals who climbed to the top of the Empire State Building in New York were detained by police after unfurling a banner and making a marriage proposal.
The incident was revealed in footage captured by a US news helicopter. The couple, dressed in black, were seen kissing atop the skyscraper's main antenna and unfurling a banner reading, 'When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.'
Since the antenna, at around 443 meters high, is located far above the public areas of the 102-story building, how the couple got there remains unknown.
In body camera footage released by police, an officer is heard climbing a ladder and telling the couple, 'You can't be up here.' The officer, breathing heavily, asks, 'How are you?' but the couple's reply is lost in the wind.
The detained couple were identified as Russian nationals Vanya Beerkus and Angela Nikolau. The pair previously appeared in the 2024 Netflix documentary 'Skywalkers: A Love Story,' which chronicles their shared passion for rooftopping, a sport that involves climbing city buildings.
Speaking to Reuters news agency, Angela's father Dmitriy Nikolau dismissed concerns about his daughter's stunt, saying, 'Why should I worry? I climb rooftops myself.' The father, a Russian circus performer, stated that he knew about the climb in advance and argued that it is constitutional in every country, including the US.
An Empire State Building spokesperson described the incident as an 'unauthorized occurrence' and suggested the couple purchase the building's $1,000 'Happily Ever After Proposal Package' to celebrate their engagement.
