art bomb

Traffic in West London stopped today after five packages containing nails were found in doorways in Shepherd's Bush.

The emergency services, including police helicopter were called to the area shortly after 08:00. The concern was related to some kind of terrorist activity and police closed many commuter roads and tube lines around the area.

Four of the suspect objects were given the all clear by later in the morning, but a source said the fifth was mistakenly picked up by dustmen and police had to track the lorry down before putting a cordon round it and checking that it was safe.

Later in the morning, a woman walked into a nearby police station in connection with the packages.

It turns out to have been an art installation, which happened to feature packages with nails sticking out of them. One, on closer examination, consisted of three cardboard tubes supporting a polystyrene "altar" on which stood some flowers and a note which talked about the loss of a "Pelagius" and included the phrase: "Your absence has gone through us like thread through a needle. Everything we do is stitched with its colour."

Tag: london, terrorism, art

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