"When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace"
These were the words that featured on a banner that a Russian couple unfurled on top of the Empire State Building on Wednesday afternoon local time.
Dressed in black and wearing masks but no tethers, the two balanced on a narrow ledge and appeared to kiss atop the New York skyscraper’s antenna, news helicopter video showed. They free-climbed the metal structure that services the spire of the iconic building, the broadcast antenna, and the red anti-collision beacon atop the building.
After lingering for a time, the two collected the banner and began to climb down, picking their way along the latticework of metal to a wider ledge, where one seemed to set up a piece of photography equipment and decided to propose. After the two kissed again and hugged, the other person took selfies with an outstretched left hand, as if examining a ring.
Meet Ivan Beerkus and Angela Nikolau
The daredevil duo then came down to face multiple charges.
The couple have been identified as Ivan Beerkus and Angela Nikolau, who were featured in a 2024 Netflix documentary "Skywalkers: A Love Story." The film showcased the couple's climb of Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur, the world's second-tallest building at 2,227 feet.
The Russian couple are experts known for climbing dangerous heights — particularly skyscrapers. They post their spine-chilling exploits from across the world on their social media handles.
They spent a decent amount of time on top of the Empire State Building before coming down and being arrested by the New York Police Department. The banner they unfurled has also been recovered. As per the NYPD, they face multiple charges including burglary, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, criminal trespass, violation of a local law, criminal tampering, disorderly conduct and possession of burglar's tools.
US media reports said that the top of the building's spire is 1,454 feet above the ground. Its observation deck was temporarily closed in the light of the incident and was reportedly reopened later in the afternoon.
At the time of compiling this report, the modus operandi of the couple remains a mystery.
