Russian social media personalities Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus have been booked by New York police after illegally climbing the Empire State Building and staging a marriage proposal without safety equipment

The couple climbed to the top of the building unfurled a banner reading When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace and later shared videos of the stunt which quickly went viral on social media

Videos showed Ivan Beerkus proposing to Angela Nikolau after displaying the banner while both were dressed in black and wearing masks

The New York Police Department monitored the stunt using drones and a helicopter before arresting the couple with the help of its emergency service unit

They have been charged with burglary reckless endangerment criminal mischief criminal trespass and other offences Authorities are investigating how they managed to bypass security and enter a restricted area without being detected

The management of the Empire State Building said visitors can arrange safe and legal marriage proposals at the observation deck

The incident has sparked widespread discussion online with many people reacting to the dramatic proposal and debating the risks involved in the stunt