One World Trade Center base jumpers convicted in New York court

Three men who jumped with parachutes from the top of New York's One World Trade Center convicted of criminal charges on Monday

One World Trade Centre was built in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks

Three men who jumped with parachutes from the top of One World Trade Center in New York have been convicted of criminal charges.

On Monday, a Manhattan jury found James Brady, 33, Andrew Rossig, 34, and Marko Markovich, 28, guilty of reckless endangerment, reckless endangerment of property and unauthorised climbing, jumping, and suspending oneself from a structure.

They were cleared of the most serious charge of burglary; but the trio can still face up to a year in prison. They are to be sentenced in August.

Timothy Parlatore, a lawyer for Rossig said: “The district attorney’s office has wasted a significant amount of time and a significant amount of taxpayer’s dollars to turn a misdemeanour case into a felony.”

According to prosecutors, in September 2013, the men snuck through a gap in the construction fence at the then-unfinished One World Trade Center. The daredevils then jumped from the top of the 104-storey building – a height of over 500 metres.

Their leap was caught on security cameras which showed at least two figures in black suits and helmets, landing and making their escape on foot.

The viral video has been watched more than 3.5 million times on YouTube.