Two arrested after people seen mysteriously emerging from various New York City sewers

New York officials arrested two of three men who they said were seen emerging from a manhole, exiting the city's underground sewer system on Wednesday.

The New York Police Department (NYPD) arrested 26-year-old Kevin Rodriguez and 25-year-old Samuel Reveron on charges of conspiracy and trespassing.

Three men were seen exiting a manhole near the hotel where Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was reportedly expected to stay for the United Nations General Assembly.

In a statement to the BBC, the NYPD said it had seen a number of incidents involving people going into the sewer system to look for valuables and scrap metal after a storm.

"This incident fits that same criteria, but out of an abundance of caution given the U.N. General Assembly and the sensitivity of the location, the NYPD is conducting additional security sweeps with our federal partners," the police department said in a statement.

Rodriguez and Reveron, both from Queens, were arrested on Thursday. They allegedly fled the scene after climbing out of the manhole when officers were called around 4:30 EST (9:30 BST) on Wednesday, police said.

During a hearing on Friday morning, the two men pleaded not guilty and were released from custody, according to court records.

The arrests follow a string of incidents in which people were seen emerging from pavement manholes in different parts of the city in recent months.