[Petronski]

...removing the devices as if they were bombs, without informing them that they were harmless.

They were plainly harmless, the cops should know this once examining the devices, without waiting to be "informed."

[bondjamesbond]

Clearly the bomb squad was not aware that the devices were harmless. This was obvious to Berdovsky as he taped them removing the devices as if they were bombs. He could have stopped the whole business and saved everybody a lot of grief by coming forward, explaining what the devices were, where they were placed, and why. Instead he chose to let the city be paralyzed for a day.

So, even if you contend that the initial plan to set the devices out was not intended to generate publicity by causing a police response, and I have pretty much given up on convincing some folks of that, clearly Berdovsky's decision to let the police response move forward as if these items were bombs generated publicity by causing a police response.

And, of course, Berdovsky just happened to be there with his camera to tape it all... Funny how that worked out, isn't it?