Two men arrested after climbing from a Manhattan manhole near Benjamin Netanyahu’s hotel told police they were scavenging for valuables, not plotting an attack.
Story Snapshot
- Police arrested two suspects after they emerged from a Park Avenue manhole near Netanyahu’s hotel during the United Nations General Assembly.
- New York Police Department said the incident fits a recent pattern of people entering sewers to search for scrap metal and lost items.
- Authorities said no evidence linked the men to a threat against Netanyahu or the United Nations event.
- Security teams increased sweeps around high-profile sites during the General Assembly as a routine safeguard.
Arrests Near High-Security Hotel During United Nations Week
New York Police Department officers arrested Kevin Rodriguez, 26, and Samuel Reveron, 25, after they were seen climbing from a manhole on Park Avenue near the hotel where Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was staying during the United Nations General Assembly. Police charged the pair with trespass and conspiracy. Investigators said the timing triggered quick security checks due to the sensitive location and busy diplomatic week, but the facts did not point to a targeted threat.
Police said the men described entering the manhole to look for valuables that storms wash into drains. That account tracks with what the department has seen in recent months. Officers have handled several sewer intrusions tied to scavenging for scrap metal or items that can be resold. City officials stress that going into sewers is illegal and dangerous. The city’s Department of Environmental Protection warns about toxic gases, unstable surfaces, and sudden flooding in underground spaces.
Pattern of Sewer Intrusions, Not a Directed Plot
Authorities said the case matches a broader pattern rather than a directed plot. Reporters and police have highlighted a series of similar incidents across the city since spring. During this latest episode, police emphasized there was no evidence of a plan to target the hotel, Netanyahu, or the United Nations gathering. This framing was echoed in national reporting that cited police assessments and statements from investigators following the arrests and initial sweeps.
Law enforcement still treated the area as high risk because world leaders were present. The United Nations Department of Safety and Security coordinates with New York Police Department each September. The security plan adds outer checkpoints, tightens perimeters, and runs extra bomb sweeps. These steps are standard and continue even after a specific lead appears low risk. That is how agencies reduce chances of copycats or misdirection during crowded events.
Security Posture: Caution Without Panic
Police increased patrols and sweeps in the zone around the Upper East Side hotels as a precaution. That posture reflects a simple rule: act fast first, then sort intent. Once the two men were identified and interviewed, the focus shifted to trespass and safety violations, not terrorism. Officials said the arrests fit the city’s recent run of sewer scavenging cases and reinforced warnings to the public to stay out of underground systems, which remain off limits and hazardous.
A citywide manhunt led to the arrest of two suspects who New York City police say emerged from a manhole just outside a hotel where Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regularly stays during the UN General Assembly. | LINK IN BIO pic.twitter.com/jNNkk3DRai
— WMTW TV (@WMTWTV) September 26, 2026
For readers, the takeaway is clear. The incident looked alarming because of place and timing, but the evidence points to illegal scavenging, not a plot. Police and security partners did what taxpayers expect: secure the site, run checks, and make arrests where laws were broken. That balance—strong security without stoking panic—helps protect leaders, residents, and visitors while keeping focus on real threats, not rumors, during a packed week in New York.
Sources:
pjmedia.com, www-cdn.abcnews.com, bbc.com, nbcnews.com
