Military horses caused chaos in central London after they got loose, resulting in four people being taken to hospital today (April 24).
The pandemonium ensued when two horses were spotted galloping along the road near Aldwych, with one appearing to be bloodstained. A taxi driver, who was parked outside the Clermont Hotel on Buckingham Palace Road, had his Mercedes people carrier's windows shattered by a startled horse.
Additionally, a double-decker tour bus parked nearby suffered a smashed windscreen after being hit by one of the horses. An Army spokesperson commented: "A number of military working horses became loose during routine exercise this morning."
They added: "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."
LBC interviewed Faraz, the Mercedes driver, who recounted the moment his vehicle was struck while he waited outside the Clermont Hotel. He witnessed three or four horses close to his car and saw a soldier being thrown off and hurt.
Authorities believe that seven horses initially escaped, with police collaborating with the Army to secure them. Social media was flooded with images and footage of two horses running wild through the streets of London, including one video showing a black 4x4 with blue lights in pursuit of the animals between Tower Bridge and Limehouse tunnel.
City of London Police officers managed to capture two horses that had broken loose and were wandering through the city. The force stated: "At around 8.40am, we were called about horses that had become loose and were travelling through the City."
It added: "Our officers have contained two horses on the highway near Limehouse. An Army horse box collected the horses and transported them to veterinary care."
Meanwhile, the London Ambulance Service was called at 8.25am following reports of a person being thrown from a horse in Buckingham Palace Road. A spokesperson for the service said: "We sent resources to the scene including ambulance crews, a paramedic in a fast response car, and an incident response officer."
They also noted: "Our first paramedic was on the scene in five minutes. The incident is still ongoing and we are working with our emergency services partners."
