Mystery as large group of men emerge from manhole into middle of busy Brooklyn street as police place area in lockdown

By JAMES GORDON, US NEWS REPORTER Published: 03:05, 30 May 2026 | Updated: 03:05, 30 May 2026 A group of men have been spotted emerging from a manhole in a busy New York street has sparking a police probe. Seven people were seen climbing out of the sewer system on Brooklyn's McDonald Avenue in Gravesend. The dramatic exit was caught on camera as it occurred at around 2am on Friday and published by local outlet Flatbush Scoop. The men emerged and began stripping off their filthy clothes before gathering near some waiting cars. Some appeared to be carrying equipment and flashlights, while others seemed to be wearing boots and protective gear.  Video circulating online appeared to show a person remaining near the manhole while the cover stayed closed, seemingly acting as a lookout.  The bizarre sight prompted the New York City Police Department (NYPD) to visit the scene several hours later.  They said investigators have been unable to determine how long the group spent inside the sewer network or why they entered it in the first place. Around seven people were captured on surveillance video emerging from a manhole in Brooklyn's Gravesend neighborhood shortly after 2am on Friday After emerging one by one from the manhole. Surveillance footage appeared to show the men removing soiled clothing on the sidewalk Footage from the investigation showed an NYPD officer wearing a respirator mask and stained protective coveralls being assisted out of the manhole after apparently searching sections of the sewer below. Additional reports suggest the men may have been underground for close to two hours before resurfacing.  The incident appears to be one of several similar instances across the borough, with witnesses reporting another group descending into a manhole in Williamsburg at Bedford Avenue and Lynch Street. Portions of the area around McDonald Avenue between Kings Highway and Avenue S were shut down while officials worked to determine whether there were any hazards underground. Crews from the city's Department of Environmental Protection also arrived at the location to conduct their own inspection of the infrastructure below the street. A spokesperson for the department said workers were 'inspecting the sewer infrastructure at this location to ensure there is no damage to the system.' The agency also issued a stark warning about the dangers associated with entering the city's sewer network. 'Entering the sewer system is both illegal and extremely dangerous,' the spokesperson said in a statement. The strange incident prompted a large NYPD investigation at the scene later on Friday The New York City Department of Environmental Protection later inspected the sewer infrastructure to check for any damage The NYPD's 62nd Precinct said the area was ultimately found to be 'safe and free of hazards' with no arrests had made as of Friday evening 'Sewers can contain numerous hazards, including noxious and potentially deadly gases, unstable surfaces, flooding risks, and confined spaces.' Despite the dramatic scene and hours of investigation, police said no arrests had been made as of Friday evening. The NYPD's 62nd Precinct later attempted to reassure residents, posting on social media that the location had been examined and was considered safe. According to the department, the area was found to be 'safe and free of hazards.' The comments below have not been moderated. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.