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Climbers Scale New York High-Rise

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The Associated Press

Published: June 6, 2008

NEW YORK - A midtown Manhattan skyscraper that is home to The New York Times became the site of twin daredevil stunts Thursday, with two men scaling the 52-story office tower within a matter of hours.

The first man, Alain Robert, unfurled a banner as he climbed that said "Global warming kills more people than a 9/11 every week." He was arrested when he made it to the top.

Hours later, a second man ascended the building - a stunt that drew the attention of thousands of onlookers, along with TV cameras that captured the drama in real time. The climber making his way up the building Thursday evening could not immediately be identified, police said.

The facade of the newly constructed building, which the Times moved into last year, is covered with slats that allowed the men to climb the tower like a ladder.

Robert pumped his fist as he made it to the top, where police took him into custody. Charges against the 45-year-old Robert were pending, a police spokesman said.

Robert's Web site says he has climbed more than 70 skyscrapers around the world. He was arrested in February after climbing a 42-floor building in Sao Paolo, Brazil.

The latest stunt was staged at the Renzo Piano-designed Times building, a block south of a busy intersection, across the street from the Port Authority bus terminal and not far from Times Square.

Robert said in a news release that he was climbing to mark World Environment Day and "to create support for far greater and urgent action from world leaders on global warming."

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