Brooklyn Bridge Climber, 44, Arrested After 272-Foot Jump Into East River

Q: Why did a naked man climb the Brooklyn Bridge tower, survive the jump, and leave police with more questions than answers?

Police still do not know why Galymzhan Abaildayev climbed the Brooklyn Bridge tower, stripped naked and jumped. What is clear is that the 44-year-old man scaled the bridge’s north tower on the Manhattan side at about 2:30 p.m. Sunday, displayed flags and other items, and then leapt into the East River before NYPD officers could talk him down. Authorities said Abaildayev survived because he was quickly pulled from the water by the NYPD Harbor Unit and taken to Bellevue Hospital, where he was listed in stable condition. Witness video showed him appearing to hold a bag or clothing above his head during the fall, though police have not said whether that affected his survival. The episode left police with unanswered questions because officials have released no confirmed motive. Reports from witnesses and local outlets said he had a backpack and two flags, including what appeared to be a Kazakh flag, and that officers later found a blanket and a robe with writing on them at the scene. Police have not confirmed what the writing meant or whether the items explained his actions. What investigators have confirmed are the charges: reckless endangerment, making graffiti, public lewdness, criminal trespass and disorderly conduct. Those charges reflect the public danger and disruption caused by the climb and jump, but they do not yet explain why he did it. The case remains under investigation.

3 articles · Updated · NBC News · Aug 3

Galymzhan Abaildayev, 44, was arrested after police said he climbed the Brooklyn Bridge’s north tower Sunday, displayed two flags and jumped into the East River.
NYPD said he now faces reckless endangerment, graffiti, public lewdness, criminal trespass and disorderly conduct charges after allegedly stripping down at the top.
Police were called Sunday afternoon on reports of a man scaling the 143-year-old bridge with a backpack; the department’s harbor unit rescued him from the water.
Abaildayev was taken to a city hospital in stable condition after the plunge from a structure whose towers have been cited at about 272 feet tall.