More than two hours after a man began scaling the south side of New York’s Trump Tower using suction cups, police have successfully intercepted him with a risky maneuver witnessed on national television Wednesday.
Police and firefighters were at the scene and had smashed windows and broken through a ventilation duct in an attempt to apprehend the man, AP reported. But around 6:30 p.m. ET, police had successfully removed the climber — who was being recorded on WABC’s live stream here — from the tower.
The TV station reported that the climber is a man named Steve from Virginia. He is believed to have begun his ascent around around 4 p.m. local time from a terrace on the fifth floor, according to the Daily News.
The building, which comprises 58 stories, is the home of GOP nominee Donald Trump and the headquarters for his presidential campaign. Trump is not in the building, having held a rally in Virginia prior to another event tonight in Florida.
First responders descended on a scaffold outside the man’s view, while other personnel attempted to remove a window above him in an effort to intercept him.
A video posted to YouTube yesterday, titled “Message to Mr. Trump (why I climbed your tower)” features a man who appears to be the climber explaining his reasons for scaling Trump Tower.
“The reason I climbed your tower was to get your attention. If I had sought this via conventional means, I would be much less likely to have success, because you are a busy man with many responsibilities.”
The man continues: “As for anyone else who’s watching … be sure to get out and vote for Mr. Trump in the 2016 election.”