Video shows group of men climbing out of a Brooklyn sewer manhole
Several men were caught on video early Friday morning coming out of a sewer manhole in Brooklyn.
Now, police are trying to determine what exactly they were doing underground.
Caught on camera
CBS New New York obtained video showing what appears to be a group of at least seven men gathering around a manhole on McDonald Avenue and Colin Lane in Flatbush late Thursday night. Some appear to be wearing waders and gloves.
Using flashlights as their guide and car lights to light up the area, one by one, all seven of them descend below ground.
Just after 2 a.m. Friday, another camera captures seven men emerge from the same manhole.
After climbing out, they appear to change clothes. A few of them appear to be shirtless on the side of the road.
In the video, what seems to be the sound of a manhole cover being replaced can be heard before the group leaves the area.
NYPD investigating
Police said a 911 call brought officers to the scene, but the men were gone before they arrived.
Later Friday afternoon, the NYPD returned to the area to investigate.
Crews from the Department of Environmental Protection were also on scene. They lowered what appeared to be a camera with a light into the manhole as they inspected the sewer system.
A DEP spokesperson said they are inspecting the sewer infrastructure in the area to make sure nothing was damaged.
"Entering the sewer system is both illegal and extremely dangerous. Sewers can contain numerous hazards, including noxious and potentially deadly gases, unstable surfaces, flooding risks, and confined spaces. For these reasons, members of the public should never enter a pipe, drain, catch basin, manhole, or outfall," the spokesperson added, in part.
Police said there is no apparent link to terrorism, and they are actively working to identify and find the men seen in the video. They could face burglary charges if caught.
Similar incident in Williamsburg
The NYPD said a similar incident was reported in Williamsburg.
According to police, eight individuals were seen entering a manhole near Heyward Street and Bedford Avenue around 1 a.m. Friday, then exiting around 3:40 a.m. before fleeing the scene in a vehicle.
Police said they were "alerted well after the fact," and no arrests have been made.
The NYPD said it is unclear what the men were doing after entering the manhole, and it is unknown if this is connected to the Flatbush incident.
These incidents are similar to one that took place in April 2025. In that incident, three people were eventually taken into custody, charged with burglary and criminal mischief.
