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