Live

Live updates: Five people injured as bloodied horses tear through central London crashing into cars and bus

24 April 2024, 09:59 | Updated: 24 April 2024, 11:09

Horses on the loose in London this morning
Horses on the loose in London this morning. Picture: Alamy

By Asher McShane

Five horses belonging to the Household Cavalry are on the loose in London.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

One of them is believed to have thrown its rider before the group bolted across the capital's streets.

One of the animals is covered in blood after it crashed into a van. The horses also collided with a tourist bus.

Five people have been injured in three locations across central London.

The horses have since been recovered, the army said.

Follow the latest developments LIVE

Thanks for reading

We're ending our coverage of the Household Cavalry horse incident now - see below for a roundup of what happened.

Horses 'spooked by noise made by builders'

One of the questions that still needs answering is why the horses bolted in the first place.

It may be because of construction noise.

The horses may have panicked and run off because of the noise of builders moving concrete in Belgravia, near Victoria Station and Buckingham Palace, the BBC has reported.

One of the horses hit a tour bus

Big Bus Tours said: “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.”

Four people taken to hospital after being hurt by horses

Military horses have bolted through central London, leaving four people needing hospital treatment. 

 A number of people, including Army personnel, were injured when chaos erupted on Wednesday as seven of the animals got loose. 

The London Ambulance Service said it had treated four people across three separate incidents in Buckingham Palace Road, Belgrave Square and the junction of Chancery Lane and Fleet Street, after the horses ran amok. 

A serviceman was thrown from his horse in Buckingham Palace Road and one of the loose animals smashed into a taxi waiting outside the Clermont Hotel, shattering the windows. 

 Two horses were seen running in the road near Aldwych, one of which appeared to be covered in blood, and later near the Limehouse tunnel, before they were recaptured by City of London Police.

Taxi driver describes the moment an escaped horse hit his van

Pictured: soldier lies injured on the pavement after horses escape

A soldier is seen being tended to after being injured by one of the horses.

The army has said the escaped horses have now been recovered, although some 'personnel and horses have been injured'.

Pictured: one of the horses colliding with a taxi

Picture: Alamy

All of the horses have been returned

All of the horses have been recovered and returned to camp.

An army spokesperson said: “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.”

Five injured in three separate locations

Five people have been injured in three separate locations across central London.

One of the soldiers injured was in Victoria, where he was heard screaming in pain as he was thrown from the horse.

Another was seen lying on the ground in Fleet Street.

Horses gallop through London

Two of the horses on the loose bolt through the streets of London

Up to five horses were on the loose in central London this morning
Up to five horses were on the loose in central London this morning Picture: Alamy

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

An employee pours a pint of Peroni beer on at the bar.

Major brewer that runs hundreds of pubs to hike beer prices, as boss blames Rachel Reeves

Nicholas Prosper killed his mother, brother and sister with a shotgun bought with a fake gun licence

Chilling moment Nicholas Prosper moans 'it's not murder' on arrest for killing his family, as he's jailed for 48 years

Smoke rises following an Israeli bombardment in the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

UN says two workers killed in Israel strikes on Gaza, as Starmer says he's 'deeply concerned' by end of ceasefire

US President Donald Trump and Elon Musk (R) speak before departing the White House.

Elon Musk claims 'people want to kill me and hurt Tesla' over billionaire's job for Donald Trump

Nicholas Prosper spent more than a year planning to kill his family and carry out a mass shooting at his former primary school.

Teen who killed family and planned mass shooting spent a year plotting attack and 'obsessing over school massacres'

Nicholas Prosper killed his mother, brother and sister with a shotgun bought with a fake gun licence

Teen who murdered his family and planned school massacre jailed for life with minimum of 48 years

Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore spent nine months in space

The ravaging effects of space on the human body revealed as astronauts touch down after 286 days

Migrants attempting to cross the English Channel

Migrant dies in Channel after dinghy capsizes while trying to reach UK

A P-8A Poseidon aircraft followed the Russian convoy along the British coast.

RAF spy plane buzzes Russian convoy loaded with weapons in Channel ahead of crucial peace talks in London

Most lower back pain treatment doesn't really work, a new study has found

Most lower back pain treatment is ineffective, researchers find

File photo of NHS ambulance staff

Three dead after listeria outbreak as authorities investigate link to NHS hospital

Kennedys Riding in Dallas Motorcade. minutes later he was assassinated

Lee Harvey Oswald was a 'poor shot' KGB claimed: Bombshell revelations from CIA's newly released JFK files

Sir Philip Green's Arcadia Group Faces Collapse

'We missed you too': Retail giant Topshop hints at return to high street

Zelenskyy has accused Putin of lying

Zelenskyy accuses Putin of lying after hospital bombing, with Ukrainian president to speak to Trump on Wednesday

Bulgarian club Arda Kardzhali apologises after holding a minute's silence for player who is still alive

Football club apologises after minute's silence for player - before discovering he's still alive

Part of the roofs on McGregor Road collapsed last night

Notting Hill horror as roofs collapse in affluent west London neighbourhood, with residents evacuated