Stomach-churning images show an FBI suspect leaning out the 31st floor window of a luxury Manhattan condo building after barricading himself inside.
The 35 year-old suspect, who hasn’t been identified, was snapped dangling out the shattered window frame at CitySpire on West 56th Street Wednesday morning.
An exclusive image obtained by DailyMail.com shows the man in a black t-shirt and jeans, shortly before he covered his head with what’s believed to be a pillow case.
He remains in the window frame as of 11:30am ET, with a huge inflatable set up at the foot of the 75-story tower by police in a bid to help break the man’s fall should he jump. It is unclear what the man is being sought for.
This is the man seen dangling out the 31st floor window of a luxury Manhattan condo tower Wednesday morning after the apartment was raided by the FBI
The prospective jumper’s sock-clad feet are seen in this DailyMail.com photo
Another snap shot from further away shows just how far the man would fall if he did jump out the window
An inflatable has been set up on 56th Street to catch the man should he end up jumping
DailyMail.com has contacted the FBI for further information, with the New York Police Department referring all queries to the Bureau.
The drama began shortly after 9am ET on Wednesday morning when the tense stand-off began.
One clip shot from below showed a pair of black-clad legs dangling out the window.
Another, shot looking down from a nearby skyscraper moments later, showed the suspect leaning out the window even further with a white drape covering his head.
Eyewitness Dominick Lagonigro told DailyMail.com: ‘All of a sudden FBI agents came down and I saw that glass was shattered so they blocked everything off.
‘When I went upstairs – I work at the Carnegie Hall tower – I just saw him sitting.
‘We didn’t know if he was going to jump or not.
‘We hoped hopefully he wasn’t, but that’s what it is and he’s still up there now
‘It was horrifying actually and his mental state and mind.
‘Who knows what’s running through his head?
Another clip shot from above shows the suspect dangling even further out the 31st floor window with a piece of white material covering their head
‘From up there you couldn’t see so much, looks like the police were negotiating with him on the inside.
‘And he was just turning his head back and fourth – both his legs were hanging out.
‘So it looked like he wanted to jump.
‘But I’m glad he didn’t as of now Thank God.
‘It’s kind of nerve-racking due to the fact again you don’t know his mental state.
‘People their mind does crazy things.
‘In my mind I was like Jesus please don’t jump we don’t want nobody getting hurt.’
A close-up shoes just how precarious the suspect’s position is. DailyMail.com has contacted the FBI and NYPD for further information on the incident
A large inflatable has been set up on the street below in an attempt to save the suspect’s life, if they end up jumping from the building
Onlookers claimed to have heard glass shattering, although there have not yet been reports of any injuries.
The unidentified suspect is holed-up in an apartment at the luxury CitySpire building at West 56th Street, close to Carnegie Hall in Midtown Manhattan.
FBI agents, the New York Police Department and New York Fire Department are all at the scene.
It’s unclear what the suspect is being sought for. The NYPD referred the matter to the FBI, and DailyMail.com has contacted the Bureau for further information.
Footage shared on crime monitoring app Citizen shows scores of locals milling around the end of the cordoned-off street while gawping at the drama unfolding before them in the sky.
A Twitter feed which monitors NYPD and NYFD radio communications tweeted: ‘150 W 56th St off 7th Ave.
‘FBI was executing a warrant & the subject is now at a window threatening to jump. FDNY staging, NYPD ESU, HNT & TARU requested.’
Onlookers mill around the end of West 56th Street in Midtown Manhattan Wednesday morning after a criminal suspect barricaded themselves in a nearby 31st floor apartment and threatened to jump out its window
One woman was seen brandishing her camera so she could record the dramatic action unfolding before her eyes
A suspect being sought by the FBI has threatened to jump out of the 75-story CitySpire tower in Midtown Manhattan
CitySpire is a luxurious condominium apartment building which boasts of offering ‘white gloved service’ for its well-heeled clients.
Wednesday’s stand-off came less than 24 hours after drama at another nearby skyscraper.
The $3.1 billion One Vanderbilt tower which sits above Grand Central Station was partially-evacuated after occupants reported terrifying rumbling and shaking.
A One Vanderbilt spokesperson later told DailyMail.com that the shaking had been caused by maintenance on an elevator used to ferry visitors to its Summit viewing platform.
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