Breaking: Activist Scaling the NY Times Building

Photos via Wally G's Flickr and WNBC.

At approximately 11:57 a.m. a news alert came in saying there was a large crowd gathered at 620 8th Avenue and West 40th Street. "LEVEL 1 CALLED FOR CROWD CONTROL, AND A POSSIBLE PERSON ATTEMPTING TO JUMP DOWN FROM A BLDG." A reader wrote in minutes later saying, "Someone is climbing the exterior of the NY Times building."

It was unsure if this was a stunt, or a suicide mission. If the former, Peter Vallone, Jr. will use it as another reason his proposed no-stunt bill should be passed into law.

CityRoom is now reporting that the climber is an activist and is holding a banner that says: “Global warming kills more people than 9/11 every week.” It's likely that this has to do with World Environment Day, which is also what the Times Square pop up is for. He also is wearing a t-shirt plugging the website thesolutionissimple.org, and is believed to be Alain Robert -- who has scaled many buildings in his time, including the Empire State Building..

If anyone has any photos from scene, send them our way.

UPDATE: The NYPD's Emergency Service Unit has him in custody on the upper floor support beam.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Carlson in News on June 5, 2008 12:07 PM

Comments [rss]

Snakefist Von Thunderplug

If there was a god, a crane would have fell on him just as a helicopter piloted by Cory Lidle crashed into him.

sonyactivision

I vote for shooting the NY Times. If it wasn't for that sanctimonious rag, little Alain would be scaling a Duane Reade.

kingstonlounge

I vote for shooting the scummy developer responsible for the Times building.

ixvnyc

I vote for shooting down all the commenters who voted for shooting down the activist. I am sure they can relate to the sentiment.

Sir Kenneth Clark

The world's most recognizable news source building features a giant ladder facade. Did we not see this coming?

Shinobi Shaw

Global Warming is a hoax created for profit by the Elite in order to Tax the people with their Carbon Tax.

The Earth has been actually cooling in the last 10 years (do the research!)

robingee

contro, are you ... Jesus?

Kingpin

"Global warming kills more people than 9/11 every week"

Annnd he's made me care even less about Global Warming thanks to the stunt and his use of September 11th.

Sir Kenneth Clark

It's like a law of the the universe: freak-shows always gather around Port Authority.

Snakefist Von Thunderplug

God, I hate activists.

In my experience, anyone who sees an issue from a very black or white perspective, ie thesolutionissimple.org, has no idea what they are talking about, is an ass, or both.

I vote for shooting him down as well.