Two arrested after unfurling ‘love’ banner on Empire State Building antenna

Two people have been arrested after getting to the top of the Empire State Building’s antenna and unfurling a banner about “the power of love”.

Dressed in black and wearing masks, the two balanced on a narrow ledge and appeared to kiss on the New York skyscraper’s antenna, which rises 1,454ft (443m) above central Manhattan, news helicopter video showed.

The banner, reading “when the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace”. waved in the wind.

Just after 12.30pm, they 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 electronic equipment and got down on one knee.

After the two kissed again and hugged, the other person took selfies with an outstretched left hand, as if examining a ring.

Police took them into custody after 1pm.

It was not clear how the pair gained access to the antenna, which rises well above public areas of the 102-storey building.

Daredevils have previously climbed the antenna and other parts of the Empire State Building. Those ascents have largely been unauthorised, but actor and musician Jared Leto was allowed to climb up to the base of the antenna from the 86th floor in 2023 to promote a tour.