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Crime and JusticeUnited States1 min read

Two people taken into custody after climbing Empire State Building with banner, NYPD says

Two people were taken into custody by the NYPD after climbing to the top of the Empire State Building in New York to unfurl a banner.

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Two people in black outfits and helmets stand atop a pole on a city rooftop, unfurling a long black banner with large white text over a blurred urban street below.

NEW YORK, July 2 (Our New York News) — Two people who climbed to the top of the Empire State Building on Wednesday were taken into custody by the New York Police Department, which said charges were pending after the unauthorized climb in Midtown Manhattan.

Police said the pair were brought down without incident after the NYPD Emergency Services Unit responded to the scene. Streets near Fifth Avenue and West 34th Street were closed during the response.

Images and video from the scene showed the climbers unfurling a banner that read, “When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace.” No injuries were reported.

An Empire State Building spokesperson said the incident was unauthorized and was resolved with the NYPD. The spokesperson said there was no threat to tenants, visitors or observation deck guests.

Police sources said charges were pending and the investigation was ongoing. CBS News New York reported that the pair could face trespass and reckless endangerment charges, but authorities had not publicly confirmed any filing.

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Susan Butcher

Susan Butcher is a senior national crime and justice reporter for Times Media Service, based in the Washington bureau. Butcher covers crime and justice, including the U.S. Supreme Court, with clear analysis of judicial decisions, court history and the trends shaping U.S. law. Butcher holds a master's degree in global journalism and grew up in Leicester, England.

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