Horses Covered in Blood Run Loose in Central London, Causing Chaos and Injuries

On Wednesday morning, five military horses from the Household Cavalry's Life Guards regiment bolted during a routine exercise near Buckingham Palace in central London, causing distress and traffic disruption. The horses were spooked by a sound from a nearby construction site, causing them to unseat four soldiers and run loose through the city streets.

The horses ran for approximately two hours, covering a distance of about 6 miles. During their rampage, they collided with vehicles, including a taxi and a double-decker tour bus, shattering windows and damaging property. Bystanders reported seeing one of the horses covered in what appeared to be blood running through the busy Aldwych area.

Four people were injured across three separate incidents involving the loose horses. Three soldiers were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after being thrown from their mounts. A fourth person, believed to be a member of the public, was also hospitalized after being injured by one of the horses.

The London Fire Brigade, police, and the Army were involved in the response to locate and contain the runaway horses. Drones were used to help track down the animals, which were eventually captured in Limehouse and Shadwell, around 4 miles east of central London.

Why this matters: The incident highlights the potential dangers posed by spooked horses in busy urban areas, even those highly trained for ceremonial duties. It also raises questions about the safety measures in place during routine military exercises in densely populated locations.

An Army spokesperson confirmed that "a number of military working horses became loose during routine exercise" and that "some personnel and horses were injured and are receiving medical attention." The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment commander stated that this type of incident is extremely rare, thanking emergency responders and the public for their quick reaction in treating the injured soldiers and horses. All five horses have since been recovered and returned to the Hyde Park Barracks for medical assessments.

Key Takeaways

• 5 military horses bolted during routine exercise near Buckingham Palace.
• Horses ran for 2 hours, covering 6 miles, colliding with vehicles and injuring 4 people.
• Horses were eventually captured in Limehouse and Shadwell, east of central London.
• Incident highlights dangers of spooked horses in urban areas, even for ceremonial duties.
• All 5 horses recovered and returned to Hyde Park Barracks for medical assessment.