A 73-year-old woman in Siberia, who hurled a hatchet at a city prosecutor general after she was denied a meeting with him, has been placed in a psychiatric ward.

The elderly woman had appeared at the prosecutor's office in the city of Omsk on July 27 and requested a meeting with him. After being denied the opportunity of having a talk with him, the woman pulled a hatchet out of her purse and hurled it at the prosecutor.

The prosecutor reacted quickly and blocked the hatchet with his arms, though he was injured in the process.

The woman was initially charged with attacking an official with the purpose of causing bodily harm.

Psychiatrists concluded that the woman suffers from extreme psychosis and is unable to control or understand her actions.

The woman has been placed in a local psychiatric ward.