Trump Tower climber: Donald fan Stephen Rogata, who scaled building with suction cups, wanted to talk to Republican presidential nominee
WATCH: Man's hours-long climb up Trump Tower comes to an abrupt end pic.twitter.com/lHnWNavSRo
— News This Second (@NewsThisSecond) August 10, 2016
Donald Trump supporter Stephen Rogata, who scaled the all-glass facade of Trump Tower in New York City using giant suction cups, has been arrested after being pulled inside the building by police.
Rogata, of Great Falls, Virginia, was first seen climbing the Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue and 56th Street at around 3.30pm Wednesday.
LIVE: Police remove windows above climber at Manhattan's Trump Tower https://t.co/YORRP3gCLO pic.twitter.com/nNVy1b3oUy
— Reuters Live (@ReutersLive) August 10, 2016
The 19-year-old scaled the building for more than two hours before he was apprehended. He said that he wanted to talk to the Republican presidential nominee.
Videos recorded by bystanders and streamed online showed police observing the man from an outdoor terrace.
A police spokeswoman said officers responded to the skyscraper on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan but had no further information.
The building is the headquarters of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's campaign. The Republican nominee who lives in the 58-storey building was in Florida at the time preparing for an election rally at the BB&T Center.
There was no immediate comment from Mr Trump's campaign spokeswoman.
The spectacle ended when police removed windows on the 21st floor and pulled Rogata inside.
Michael Cohen, executive vice-president of the Trump Organization said: "There's damage to the building and he caused the unnecessary deployment of New York's finest to protect his safety and the safety of everyone in the building.
"He caused the shutdown of traffic on Fifth Avenue. I'm 100% certain the NYPD had better things to do. If Mr. Trump were here he'd be thanking law enforcement for the job they're doing."
Rogata posted a video (viewable below) to Youtube on Tuesday titled "Message to Mr. Trump (why I climbed your tower)". The man explains his reason for scaling the building.
"I am an independent researcher seeking a private audience with you to discuss an important matter. I guarantee that it is in your interest to honour this request.
"Believe me, if my purpose was not significant, I would not risk my life pursuing it. 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.
"As for anyone else who is watching, please help make this video go viral so that it gets to Mr. Trump, and be sure to get out and vote for Mr Trump in the 2016 election."
A man is climbing up the side of New York's Trump Tower with giant suction cups https://t.co/LEDvpRs99J https://t.co/oxOX4tBBej
— CNN International (@cnni) August 10, 2016
I can't get enough of any of this #TrumpTower pic.twitter.com/gYy2lItj3D
— Claire Ballor (@claireballor) August 10, 2016
Belfast Telegraph Digital
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