The British Army and Metropolitan Police were left reeling this morning after several military horses escaped during an exercise, injuring five people, including a soldier, as they rampaged through the capital. Four of the five injured have been sent to hospital.
Although the horses have now been detained, it is unclear what their condition is – nor is the extent of the injuries suffered by those hit by the animals.
Adding to the carnage, the horses darted off in different directions around the capital. Two were apprehended in Limehouse, east London, around five miles from the Hyde Park Barracks where they escaped.
The other three were detained closer to the barracks in central London.
Buckingham Palace Road, Victoria
An image has emerged of a member of the public that appeared to have brought one of the injured horses under control on Buckingham Palace Road.
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Two people were injured in Belgrave Square, which is just moments from the barracks, before all five horses headed down Lower Belgrave Street.
A rider was thrown to the ground in Victoria outside the Clermont Hotel when his horse was struck by a car. He is reported to have been “screaming in pain”.
The horse was apprehended outside the hotel.
Later, another man was seen strewn on the pavement on Fleet Street just to the west of St Paul’s Cathedral, after two of the horses were videoed running down the Strand nearby. One of the horses was covered in blood.
Those same horses were then sighted near Tower Bridge and were later picked up by City of London Police in Limehouse, east London.
After getting ahold of the two horses in Limehouse, City of London police said: “At around 8.40am, we were called about horses that had became [sic] 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.”
Shadwell
Video footage showed the junction between King David Lane and Glamis Road being patrolled by police, as officers brought the horses under control.
Following the incident, the Army said in a statement: “A number of military working horses become 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.”
