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Suspected protester spotted scaling George Washington Bridge causing traffic delays

By
Dean Balsamini
Published May 18, 2024
Updated May 18, 2024, 4:12 p.m. ET

🐲At least one man was spotted scaling the George Washington Bridge Saturday afternoon — causing traffic delays as the NYPD attempted to coral the climber.

Police called for airbags and c💦ould be seen on the south side of the Manhattan tower🐼 as they tried to get the person.

The i🙈ncident unfolded just before൲ noon and caused at least 90 minutes worth of delays due to the police activity, the Port Authority 

A possible protester was seen scaling the George Washington Bridge causing traffic delays.
A possible protester was seen scaling the George Washington Bridge causing traffic delays.
ESU on the George Washington Bridge as they try to stop man climbing up the side of the NY side of the bridge
Police called for airbags and could be seen on the south side of the Manhattan tower as they tried to get the person.
Photo of: The police trying to talk a person down from jumping off the GWB in Manhattan
The incident unfolded just before noon and caused at least 90 minutes worth of delays due to the police activity, the Port Authority wrote on X. G.N.Miller/NYPost
Photo of: The police trying to talk a person down from jumping off the GWB in Manhattan
There were initial reports of as many as three people climbing the bridge, according to an FDNY spokesman. G.N.Miller/NYPost
Photo of: The police trying to talk a person down from jumping off the GWB in Manhattan
The NYPD would not confirm or deny whether the climber was a protester or an emotionally disturbed person. G.N.Miller/NYPost

There were init⛄ial reports of as many as three people climbing the bridge, according to an FDNY spokesman. 

The NYPD would not confirm or deny whether the climber was💫 a protester or an emotionally disturbed person.

“There’s no flags, no banners, no statements in connection to any protests,” an NYPD spokesman said Saturday afternoon, noting authorities will have more information once the climber is in custody.

About three and a half hours after the incident began, one person who had been scaling 💯the span surrendered without incident, police said.