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[AnthonyP]

This story is beyond awesome. I work a few blocks away. Check out the video.

This guys is crazy though, check out this pic from a previous climb.

NEW YORK — Two people were taken into custody Thursday after separately scaling The New York Times building in Manhattan.

Alain Robert, known as the "French Spider-Man" was trapped by police shortly before 12:30 p.m. EDT after he deftly inched up the side of the Times Square high-rise, which houses the newspaper's relatively new.

Several hours later another man, who was not immediately identified, started climbing the building, while a crowd gathered below. Police took him into custody shortly after 6:30 p.m.

• Click here for photos.

Robert had gone about 52 stories up before New York City Police caught him in a precarious recovery operation.

The 45-year-old had planned the stunt in honor of "World Environment Day," and invited reporters to a press conference first, then a chance to see how he climbs.

• Click here for a video.

"I am climbing with my bare hands, as a PEACEFUL way to create support for far greater and urgent action from world leaders on global warming," Robert said in a press release he issued in advance. "Greenhouse gas emissions are still climbing. So am I!!!"
Related

Robert has scaled anywhere from 70 to 85 large structures around the world, usually with only his bare hands and climbing shoes.

• Click here to visit Robert's Web site.

The second man wore a "Malaria No More" shirt, but a statement issued by the organization said he was not linked to them.

"The individual has no affiliation with our organization," the statement read. "While Malaria No More appreciates his enthusiasm for raising awareness about malaria, we are in the business of saving lives, not risking them."

Before the NYPD caught Robert, they declined to disclose whether they planned to arrest him, saying only that they were concerned about getting him down from the building at 41st Street and Eighth Avenue safely.

The Times reported the incident on its "City Room" blog.

 

[AnthonyP]

Edited with pictures.

 

[StriKeVillain]

What a beast. Sly has nothing on this guy!

 

[RyoHazuki]

Probably not much harder than free solo'ing a 5.10a.

 

[Lonestar]

I hate heights....

 

[Docpan]

What video?

 

[Jason's Ultimatum]

I hate heights....

I've had nightmares where I would be in one of those elevators inside a skyscraper. You could see outside and I would literally freak out, closing my eyes and getting on all fours. :lol

 

[Escape Goat]

Those pics made me feel like i was really up there. Ugh, I hate heights!

 

[AnthonyP]

What video?

Whoops, my bad. You can find one video here: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,363488,00.html

And another video here: http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/05/man-scales-new-york-times-building/

 

[fistfulofmetal]

I knew it would be that guy. He does this shit all the time.

 

[Souldriver]

God, I'm feeling weird in the stomach just looking at those pics.

 

[Tauntaun]

That's pretty freaking crazy right thurrr, but awesome at the same time. He's like a natural batman or something.

 

[AnthonyP]

How do you guys think he would do in the Ninja Warrior competition?

 

[Jason's Ultimatum]

Jesus Christ look at all the people. :lol

 

[RyuHayate]

He's like the protagonist from SOTC.

 

[AnthonyP]

He's like the protagonist from SOTC.

LOL, actually I was thinking more so of Assassin's Creed.

 

[Cruceh]

The first time I saw the Times building, I knew someone would want to climb that thing.

 

[xBerserker]

That last photo is amazing. Climb on good sir, climb on!

 

[louie]

There was a documentary on this guy on channel 4 a few weeks ago. Complete lunatic.