In a startling scene that left passersby in disbelief, a group of men unexpectedly emerged from a manhole on a bustling New York street, prompting a police investigation. The unusual event unfolded on Brooklyn’s McDonald Avenue in the Gravesend neighborhood, catching the attention of local residents.
Witnesses observed seven individuals climbing out of the city’s sewer system, an incident that was captured on video around 2 a.m. on Friday. The dramatic footage quickly garnered attention after being published by the local news outlet, Flatbush Scoop.
Once above ground, the men began shedding their grimy attire and congregating near parked vehicles nearby. The sight was made even more curious by some of the group members carrying what appeared to be equipment and flashlights. Additionally, several were spotted in boots and protective gear, adding to the intrigue of the situation.
The men began stripping off their filthy clothes after they got out of the hole and then gathered near waiting cars.
Some appeared to be carrying equipment and flashlights, while others seemed to be wearing boots and protective gear.Â
Video circulating online appeared to show a person remaining near the manhole while the cover stayed closed, seemingly acting as a lookout.Â
The bizarre sight prompted the New York City Police Department (NYPD) to visit the scene several hours later.Â
They said investigators have been unable to determine how long the group spent inside the sewer network or why they entered it in the first place.
Around seven people were captured on surveillance video emerging from a manhole in Brooklyn’s Gravesend neighborhood shortly after 2am on Friday
After emerging one by one from the manhole. Surveillance footage appeared to show the men removing soiled clothing on the sidewalk
Footage from the investigation showed an NYPD officer wearing a respirator mask and stained protective coveralls being assisted out of the manhole after apparently searching sections of the sewer below.
Additional reports suggest the men may have been underground for close to two hours before resurfacing.Â
The incident appears to be one of several similar instances across the borough, with witnesses reporting another group descending into a manhole in Williamsburg at Bedford Avenue and Lynch Street.
Portions of the area around McDonald Avenue between Kings Highway and Avenue S were shut down while officials worked to determine whether there were any hazards underground.
Crews from the city’s Department of Environmental Protection also arrived at the location to conduct their own inspection of the infrastructure below the street.
A spokesperson for the department said workers were ‘inspecting the sewer infrastructure at this location to ensure there is no damage to the system.’
The agency also issued a stark warning about the dangers associated with entering the city’s sewer network.
‘Entering the sewer system is both illegal and extremely dangerous,’ the spokesperson said in a statement.
The strange incident prompted a large NYPD investigation at the scene later on Friday
The New York City Department of Environmental Protection later inspected the sewer infrastructure to check for any damage
The NYPD’s 62nd Precinct said the area was ultimately found to be ‘safe and free of hazards’ with no arrests had made as of Friday evening
‘Sewers can contain numerous hazards, including noxious and potentially deadly gases, unstable surfaces, flooding risks, and confined spaces.’
Despite the dramatic scene and hours of investigation, police said no arrests had been made as of Friday evening.
The NYPD’s 62nd Precinct later attempted to reassure residents, posting on social media that the location had been examined and was considered safe.
According to the department, the area was found to be ‘safe and free of hazards.’
In 2024, members of a Crown Heights synagogue were found to have dug illegal tunnels to link a building next door
A man is seen emerging from the tunnels beneath the synagogue in 2024
Hasidic Jewish students watch on as police guard a breached wall in the synagogue on January 8
Both incidents occurred in predominantly Jewish neighborhoods of Brooklyn.Â
In 2024, illegally-dug tunnels were discovered being used by young Orthodox Jewish men in an attempt to link a synagogue to a nearby ritual bath at the Chabad Lubavitch global headquarters in Crown Heights.
Members of the Hasidic Jewish community were arrested and charged over a 60ft secret tunnel.
The leaders of the synagogue only discovered the tunnel after neighbors complained of hearing people speaking Yiddish under their floors.