Modern Day Spider Man Climbs to Top of WTC

Modern Day Spider Man Climbs to Top of WTC

Imagine this: You’re a 16-year-old living on the border of New York and New Jersey. It’s 4am on a Sunday morning; you’re wide awake and bored (if that’s even remotely possible with access to such a huge city), so what else is there to do than to climb to the top of your favorite building which also happens to be the tallest one in America? Yep, I’m talking about the World Trade Center complete with at least four layers of security, or supposedly!

Modern Day Spider Man Climbs to Top of WTCIntroducing Justin Casquejo, the 16-year-old who crawled through a hole in a Ground Zero fence, tip-toed past a sleeping security guard and fooled the clueless union elevator operator who did not ask the teen for his ID, nor did he have one.

As the story goes, Casquejo was dropped off on the 88th floor, and then hiked up the next 16 flights on foot, reaching the 104th floor. This is where he found the guard sound asleep, who by the way, has since been fired. He climbed up to the roof and then over to the spire, spending about 2 hours snapping photos, until he was finally discovered by a construction worker.

Casquejo bragged to police that it was quite simple to get past security in a building that was supposed to be encased in a “ring of steel,” and explained that he simply walked around the construction site unnoticed and figured out how to access the Freedom Tower rooftop.

Although Casquejo faces trespassing charges, in a one-word tweet, he summed up his adventure: “Inspired.”

About the Author

Ginger Hill is Group Social Media Manager.

Featured

  • Pragmatism, Productivity, and the Push for Accountability in 2025-2026

    Every year, the security industry debates whether artificial intelligence is a disruption, an enabler, or a distraction. By 2025, that conversation matured, where AI became a working dimension in physical identity and access management (PIAM) programs. Observations from 2025 highlight this turning point in AI’s role in access control and define how security leaders are being distinguished based on how they apply it. Read Now

  • Report: Cyber Attackers Continue to Turn to AI-Based Tools to Avoid Detection

    Comcast Business recently released its 2025 Cybersecurity Threat Report, a comprehensive analysis of 34.6 billion cybersecurity events detected between June 1,2024 and May 31, 2025. Now in its third year, the report offers business leaders a unique perspective into the evolving threat landscape and provides actionable insights to help organizations strengthen their defenses and align cybersecurity with business risk. Read Now

  • Axis Communications Creates AI-powered Video Surveillance Orchestra

    What if cameras could not only see the world, but interpret it—and respond like orchestra musicians reading sheet music: instantly, precisely, and in perfect harmony? That’s what global network technology leader Axis Communications set to find out. Read Now

  • Just as Expected

    GSX produced a wonderful tradeshow earlier this week. Monday was surprisingly strong in the morning, and the afternoon wasn’t bad at all. That’s Monday’s results and asking attendees to travel on Sunday. Just a quick hint, no one wants to give up their weekend to travel and set up an exhibit booth. I’m just saying. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • GSX
  • NOLA: The Crescent City

    Twenty years later we finds ourselves in New Orleans. Twenty years ago the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina forced exhibitors and attendees to look elsewhere for tradeshow floor space. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • GSX

New Products

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame.

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction.

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge.