I urge the police and DEP to reexamine both locations thoroughly. These don’t seem to be innocent events, and I’m betting that this isn’t over;
Some strange happenings took place in Brooklyn, New York, early Friday morning. In two separate locations, 15 individuals were seen entering and exiting manholes.
The first group of eight was seen in Williamsburg at Heyward Street and Bedford Avenue. An hour later, a group of seven was seen emerging in Gravesend near McDonald Avenue and Collin Place.
Security footage from the Gravesend incident showed individuals wearing waders and gloves, carrying flashlights, as they emerged from the sewer, removed their soiled clothing, and left the area in parked cars.
Officials from the NYPD, FDNY, and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) inspected the sewer system and determined that the infrastructure is safe. Authorities have emphasized that entering the city's sewer system is both dangerous and illegal, as it poses serious risks, including exposure to deadly gases and toxic fumes, as well as potential flooding.
CBS New York obtained video footage showing at least seven men gathered around a manhole on McDonald Avenue and Colin Lane in Flatbush late Thursday night. One by one, the seven descended underground, using their flashlights to guide them and cars to illuminate the area.
A different camera recorded seven men emerging from the same manhole just after 2 a.m. on Friday.
They appeared to change clothes after climbing out; some of them were shirtless by the side of the road. In the video, the sound of a manhole cover being replaced can be heard before the group leaves the area.
On Friday afternoon, the NYPD returned to the area to conduct an investigation.
Crews from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) were also present on the scene. They lowered what appeared to be a camera with a light into the manhole to inspect the sewer system.
A spokesperson for the DEP stated that they are assessing the sewer infrastructure in the area to ensure that there was no damage.
A similar incident occurred in Williamsburg.
According to the police, eight individuals were observed entering a manhole near Heyward Street and Bedford Avenue around 1 a.m. on Friday. They exited the manhole around 3:40 a.m. and fled the scene in a vehicle.
Police reported that they were "alerted well after the fact," and no arrests have been made. The NYPD stated that it is unclear what the individuals were doing inside the manhole, and it is unknown if this incident is connected to the one in Flatbush.
The obvious question is, what the hell were they doing down there?
After their investigation, the police were quick to release a statement stating that 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.
They were also quick to cite another instance that occurred in April of 2025, when four men were seen entering a manhole on 17th Avenue off 82nd Street in Bensonhurst. A fifth man was seen setting up a folding chair on the sidewalk to watch; all five were wearing neon vests to emulate city workers.
In that case, three arrests were made. The men, aged 25 to 39, were charged with burglary and criminal mischief.
Now, I am neither a police officer nor a detective, but I would not be so quick to compare the first incident from last April to the two that took place on Thursday night into early Friday am. I would also not be so anxious to publicly state that there is no apparent link to terrorism. I understand the need to avoid panicking the public, but the statement should have been that there is no apparent known motive at this time.
The incident last April took place during the day, while the two incidents last week occurred under the cover of darkness. Last week’s forays into the manholes appear to be more organized; in one incident, they had a lookout, changed clothes, and had cars parked for a clean getaway.
Both occurred on the same night, and the distance between them is approximately ten miles. These could have been exploratory trips, or they could have been preparatory excursions to get things ready for something that will take place in the future. Two separate locations led me to consider the possibility of attacks occurring in succession. While all police and fire activity is focused on one site, another attack happens ten miles away.
I know I sound like my tin foil hat is too tight, but I do not believe that it’s a coincidence that two separate teams, one with seven men and another with eight, went manhole exploring on the same night.
I urge the police and DEP to reexamine both locations thoroughly. These don’t seem to be innocent events, and I’m betting that this isn’t over.
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