Alain Robert, known as the "French Spider-Man" was trapped by police shortly before 12:30 p.m. EDT after he deftly inched up the side of the Times Square high-rise, which houses the newspaper's relatively new.

Several hours later another man, who was not immediately identified, started climbing the building, while a crowd gathered below. Police took him into custody shortly after 6:30 p.m.

Robert had gone about 52 stories up before New York City Police caught him in a precarious recovery operation.

The 45-year-old had planned the stunt in honor of "World Environment Day," and invited reporters to a press conference first, then a chance to see how he climbs.

"I am climbing with my bare hands, as a PEACEFUL way to create support for far greater and urgent action from world leaders on global warming," Robert said in a press release he issued in advance. "Greenhouse gas emissions are still climbing. So am I!!!"