Nail bomb 'art' woman cautioned

No explosives were found in the packages

A woman who left five packages around London sparking a major security alert, before claiming them as her "art", has been given a caution.

Monica Saieva, 36, from west London, was this week cautioned under the Public Order Act - but not charged.

Roads were closed, police helicopters scrambled and the bomb squad called on 26 April, when the packages were found in Shepherd's Bush and Hammersmith.

It is thought the police operation cost tens of thousands of pounds.

Cordons put up

It came at a time of heightened security in London, following the 7 July attacks on the Tube and bus network by four suicide bombers, which killed 52 people and injured hundreds.

Much of west London also ground to a halt as cordons went up and parts of the Tube were shut.

Some of the packages were cardboard boxes containing soft toys and training shoes - at least one had nails sticking out of it.

Another, in Charecroft Way, Shepherd's Bush, was made up of three cardboard tubes beneath a polystyrene altar - lamenting the loss of Pelagius.

In a statement on Friday, Scotland Yard said: "A 36-year-old local woman has been cautioned for causing harassment, alarm or distress, contrary to section five, subsection 1(b) of the Public Order Act 1986."

The spokeswoman added that police reserved the right to speak to her again if necessary.