NYPD steps up security sweeps after 3 people exit Upper East Side manhole, with UN in town

Key Points:

• The NYPD is planning additional security sweeps on the Upper East Side after three individuals were seen exiting a manhole near 535 Park Ave, a sensitive area due to nearby dignitaries attending the U.N. General Assembly.
• Officials believe the individuals were searching the sewer system for valuables and scrap metal, a pattern seen in previous incidents across the city over the past few months.
• The incident was reported around 4:30 a.m., captured on camera, and the three unidentified people left the scene in two separate vehicles heading north on Park Avenue.
• The city's Department of Environmental Protection confirmed the sewer infrastructure is safe but warned that entering the sewer system is illegal and hazardous due to risks like toxic gases, flooding, and confined spaces.
• No arrests have been made, and the NYPD continues to investigate while maintaining a robust security response, especially given the ongoing U.N. General Assembly meetings.