Horses loose in London — Army confirms all escaped horses are recovered as four injured in shocking incident
SEVEN cavalry horses were free on the streets of London this morning, with one pictured covered in blood.
The Ministry of Defence confirmed seven Household Cavalry horses escaped in central London.
Onlookers report one horse covered in blood after spotting a soldier falling from the animal.
An Army spokesperson has now confirmed all horses have been recovered.
Follow our live blog below for the latest news and updates...
Summary of today's events
- Five cavalry horses went on a six-mile rampage in central London after getting spooked by construction workers.
- Army personnel and pedestrians were injured and vehicles damaged after the horses caused havoc across the city on Wednesday morning.
- Ambulance crews treated four people in three separate incidents.
- It is understood that three soldiers were assessed in hospital for their injuries, which were not thought to be serious.
- An Army spokesperson said all of the horses have been recovered and returned to camp.
How did the horses get loose?
Five cavalry horses caused mayhem in central London today after getting spooked by construction workers.
It is believed the animals were spooked when some concrete being moved by builders hit the ground.
Construction workers were reportedly using a rubbish chute to transport rubble when they dropped some concrete.
Where did the horses come from?
A group of seven horses and six soldiers from the Household Cavalry were on an extended exercise in Belgravia on Wednesday when chaos erupted.
Four service personnel were thrown from their horses and five of the animals got loose, smashing into vehicles and causing a number of injuries.
An Army spokesperson has now confirmed all horses have been recovered.
Pictures: Damage caused by the horses
![](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 960 639"%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Credit: LNP ![](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 960 693"%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Credit: PA Smashed-up Merc
A security guard who was working on Buckingham Palace Road at the time witnessed the incident.
The 27-year-old said: "I work in the building opposite and saw all these horses had got loose and were running across the road.
"One of them smashed into a Mercedes van and unfortunately the soldier riding it was thrown off and got trampled on. The horse ran off covered in blood.
"There was at least six other horses running down the road, but I could only see one other rider. The soldier that fell off was dazed but he wasn't unconscious. When he came to he was able to be walked off by paramedics."
The witness, from Enfield, north London, said the road was closed for around 20 minutes while emergency services attended.
The driver-side windows of the silver Mercedes van hit by the horse was smashed in the impact and left stained with blood. The vehicle has since been recovered.
Credit: Belinda Jiao 'The most unusual thing I've seen in central London'
A photographer said he saw two horses charge past him in central London this morning.
“There were two horses which came hurtling past," Jordan Pettitt, who works for the PA news agency, said.
"The horse on the right, as I was looking towards it, was jet black and had a saddle on it. The one to the left, which also had a saddle, was a really distinct white colour.
“It had a really distinct red underbelly which we later found out was blood but it was so sharp and vivid that it seemed unlike blood as it was so saturated and rich.
“It was just two bright colours hurtling down this road and it went straight past me.
“It is probably the most unusual thing I have seen in central London so far. Seeing two riderless horses bolting down an empty A road in London is certainly unique and took me very much by surprise today.”
Eye witness recalls seeing 'very bloody' horse
An eye witness described the chaos that unfolded during her morning commute.
Megan Maurer told BBC Radio 2: “I saw three police officers or security guards running down the middle of Buckingham Palace Road, quite frantically, I would say.
“I looked up and I saw a horse being led in the direction coming towards me and the horse was very bloody. The poor thing looked like it was in really rough shape there was blood all over its legs and on its head.
“There looked like there was some form of injury on its head but it had been captured.
“It was not completely incapacitated, it was walking but it was covered in blood, it was such a confusing sight to see, it looked like it had an injury above its right eye.”
Horses smashed through row of bicycles
Horses ploughed through an electricity box, a row of hire bicycles, and a hire scooter on the eastern corner of Belgrave Square, the Telegraph reports.
There were also scuffs on the pavement made from horse shoes and horse dung all over the ground.
The report said the horses left a "scene of devastation".
Pictured: Moment blood-covered horses run through the streets of London
Four people taken to hospital
Four people, believed to be riders thrown off their horses, were taken to hospital after the animals escaped today.
One of the horses was also injured after hitting a vehicle.
All seven horses have now been recovered.
'Total mayhem'
One Londoner described the "total mayhem" that ensued after a group of cavalry horses escaped in the capital.
“I saw horses come from the bus station in front of Victoria run around in a frenzy,” Roland, a worker for tour bus company, Toot Bus, told the Telegraph.
“People were running around to avoid them - it was total mayhem.”
![](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 960 640"%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Credit: PA Wire One horse collided with a taxi
A taxi driver waiting outside the Clermont Hotel this morning had the windows of his car smashed after one escaped horse collided with his Mercedes people carrier.
LBC spoke to the driver, Faraz, who was waiting outside the hotel when he felt something smash into his car.
He said he saw three or four horses near the vehicle and that one member of military personnel had been thrown off and injured.
Four injured as horses run through London's streets
London Ambulance Service told The Sun four people have been injured in today's incident.
At least one soldier was hurt as the horses ran through the streets of London.
All the horses have now been recovered.
All horses recovered
All horses have been recovered following today's incident in London, an Army spokesperson confirmed.
A statement said: “A number of military working horses became loose during routine exercise this morning. All of the horses have now been recovered and returned to camp.
“A number of personnel and horses have been injured and are receiving the appropriate medical attention.”
Horse spotted near Tower Bridge
One onlooker saw a horse running towards Limehouse from Tower Bridge.
Tracy, 20, from London, said: "It was the street from Tower Bridge towards Limehouse Tunnel… just running past cars and an unmarked Range Rover following them."
Two horses have been caught
The City of London police have confirmed two of the seven horses have now been caught.
A tweet read: "At around 8.40am, we were called about horses that had became loose and were travelling through the City.
"Our officers have contained two horses on the Highway near Limehouse. We’re waiting for an Army horse box to collect the horses and transport them to veterinary care."
What have the Met said?
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "We are aware of a number of horses on the loose in central London.
"We are working with colleagues in the Army to locate them."
A City of London Police spokesperson said: "At around 8.40am, we were called about horses that had became loose and were travelling through the City.
"Our officers have contained two horses on the Highway near Limehouse.
"We're waiting for an Army horse box to collect the horses and transport them to veterinary care."
Escaped horse hit tour bus
Big Bus Tours has now confirmed a horse hit one of its stationary busses this morning.
A statement read: “We confirm that one of our stationary buses sustained damage this morning during an incident involving horses from the Household Cavalry. One of the horses ran into the front of our parked vehicle.
“Fortunately, none of our team members were injured. Our primary concern lies with the welfare of the riders and animals involved in the incident.
“We are currently coordinating closely with Emergency Services to assist in any way possible. At this stage, we have no further comments to provide.”
Pictured: Moment blood-covered horses run through the streets of London
Credit: PA Credit: PA Credit: PA London Ambulance Service issues statement
“We were called at 8:25am today (April 24) to reports of a person being thrown from a horse on Buckingham Palace Road, SW1W," the London Ambulance Service said.
“We sent resources to the scene including ambulance crews, a paramedic in a fast response car, and an incident response officer.
“Our first paramedic was on the scene in five minutes.
“The incident is still ongoing and we are working with our emergency services partners.”
Horse 'bleeding from its chest'
One onlooker says she saw a horse covered in blood as it ran through the streets of London.
“I saw a white horse running, he was bleeding all over his chest,” Csilla, a coffee shop employee, said, reports the Telegraph.
“A few moments later I saw another horse - a black one - running after him. And then a police car went down the road after them.”
Soldier reportedly injured in incident
One soldier was said to be injured and lying in the street outside the Clermont Hotel in Buckingham Palace Road, Victoria as the horses escaped.
"I saw a soldier falling down into the street after the horse ran into a car," Bashir Aden told The Telegraph.
The construction worker, 48, continued: "One of my colleagues called the police. The man hit the floor hard, he was screaming in pain.
"You could see blood all over the parked car. The horses come down this route every day, but today the horse looked stressed or panicked."
WATCH: Horses spotted running through the streets of London
Moment seven spooked cavalry horses career down London street covered in ‘blood’ after soldier left injuredSEVEN horses loose on the streets of London
Seven horses have been seen running through the streets of London, with one covered in blood.
The animals, wearing saddles and bridles, were seen careering down the road near Aldwych on Wednesday morning.
A Metropolitan police spokesman said: “We are aware of a number of horses that are currently loose in central London and are working with colleagues, including the Army, to locate them.”