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Couple who staged apparent proposal atop Empire State Building faces slew of charges
The Guardian • • nation
Key Points:
- Two Russian rooftoppers, Angela Nikolau and Ivan Kuznetsov, were arrested and arraigned in New York City after staging a marriage proposal atop the Empire State Building’s spire, facing multiple charges including reckless endangerment and burglary.
- The couple unfurled a large black banner with a peace message at the 1,454-foot summit, attracting police attention and leading to their arrest by the NYPD’s emergency service unit.
- Both are known for the underground activity of rooftopping, with significant social media followings and previous similar stunts in China and California.
- Authorities are investigating how they managed to scale the final sections of the iconic building, which is heavily secured and was the world’s tallest when it opened in 1931.
- The Empire State Building’s owners condemned the stunt, encouraging couples to propose through conventional means rather than dangerous trespassing.
