Police said more than a dozen people were seen entering or exiting sewer access points in Williamsburg and Gravesend.
BROOKLYN, NY — Police are investigating after two groups of people were seen entering or exiting manholes in Brooklyn early Friday, including incidents in Williamsburg and Gravesend that happened about an hour apart, the NYPD said.
The cases drew attention because of the timing, the unusual locations and the number of people involved. Police said they have not determined why the groups entered the sewer system or whether the incidents are connected. City crews later inspected the sewer infrastructure, and police said no arrests had been announced as investigators reviewed video and looked for the people seen underground.
The first known incident happened around 1 a.m. Friday near Heyward Street and Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg, police said. Investigators said eight people were seen entering a manhole there and later leaving the area in a vehicle. Around 2 a.m., a second group was seen near McDonald Avenue and Collin Place in Gravesend, where video showed seven people emerging from a manhole one by one. Police said the Williamsburg group left at about 3:40 a.m. “Right now, we can’t say that they’re the same,” a police spokesman said, referring to the two groups. The spokesman said investigators were reviewing footage because of the similar conduct and the short time between the incidents.
Video from the Gravesend scene showed people climbing out of the sewer with flashlights and gathering near parked cars. Some appeared to be wearing waders, boots or gloves, and several appeared to remove dirty clothing after leaving the manhole. Police said a 911 call brought officers to the scene, but the group was gone before officers arrived. The NYPD’s Emergency Service Unit later searched below ground. A police spokesman said officers went in because “there was a concern” and the department wanted to make sure the area was safe. The city Department of Environmental Protection also sent crews to inspect the system and check for damage. Officials said no damage was found at the Gravesend site.
The motive remained unclear Saturday. Police said they had not found an apparent link to terrorism, and investigators were still working to identify the people seen in the videos. The sewer system is considered critical city infrastructure, and city officials said unauthorized entry is illegal and dangerous. The Department of Environmental Protection said sewers can contain hazardous gases, unstable surfaces, flood risks and confined spaces. The agency said it works with public safety agencies to protect infrastructure and inspect locations when unusual activity is reported. In Gravesend, the NYPD’s 62nd Precinct said the area had been checked and was safe and free of hazards.
The incidents also drew concern because both neighborhoods have visible residential and religious communities, and the Gravesend site is near schools and homes. Joey Saban, chief of staff for state Sen. Sam Sutton of Brooklyn, said the episode unsettled residents. “The community was very alarmed,” Saban said. He called the case “a bizarre incident” and said it showed how vulnerable some residents feel when unexplained activity happens near public infrastructure. In Williamsburg, a Shomrim vehicle was seen near one of the manholes after the incident. Residents described a heavy police presence, with emergency vehicles and officers working at the scene after the groups had left.
The manhole sightings follow earlier Brooklyn sewer trespass cases. In April 2025, police said several men were caught on video entering a manhole in Bensonhurst, and three people later faced charges including burglary and criminal mischief. News 12 reported another Dyker Heights case in January 2026, when two men were accused of entering a manhole and spending hours underground before they were arrested. Police sources have said some people questioned in past sewer entries claimed they were searching for lost items. Officials have not said whether the Williamsburg and Gravesend cases are linked to any earlier incidents or to any organized activity.
Investigators were expected to keep reviewing surveillance video from both areas, including footage showing vehicles near the manholes. Police had not released names or descriptions of suspects by Saturday, and no charges had been filed in the two Friday incidents. Possible charges could depend on what investigators learn about how the groups entered the system, whether equipment was used, whether any property was damaged and whether the same people were involved at both sites. City inspectors also were expected to continue checking whether any part of the sewer system had been disturbed.
At the Gravesend location, the footage showed the group moving quickly after climbing out of the manhole. Some people appeared to clean themselves near parked vehicles before leaving. Anthony Purdie, a 65-year-old retired Doe Fund employee who said he is homeless, told the New York Post he saw police activity in Williamsburg late Friday. “I saw four to five cops here,” Purdie said. He said he later heard reports that several men had come out of the manhole. “That’s crazy,” he said. Police have not said whether any witnesses spoke directly with the people seen entering or leaving the sewers.
The investigation was still active Sunday, with the key questions unresolved: who entered the manholes, why they went underground and whether the two Brooklyn incidents were connected. City officials said inspections found no immediate hazard or damage at the known sites.
Author note: Last updated May 31, 2026.