Five British military horses including one soaked in blood sparked chaos in London on Wednesday after they bolted through the streets near Buckingham Palace during the morning rush.
The rogue Household Cavalry horses, who were wearing saddles and bridles, were spotted charging through the heart of the UK capital, injuring four people, around 8:30 a.m., the Telegraph reported.
The runaways got spooked by nearby construction workers during a morning exercise in Belgravia and threw their riders before charging through the busy streets.
Wild footage posted on social media showed one of the horses galloping past Buckingham Palace at one point.
At least two others, including a white horse covered in blood, could be seen tearing through other busy areas of the city, including Tower Bridge and the Strand.
“We are aware of a number of horses that are currently loose in central London and are working with colleagues, including the Army, to locate them,” London’s Metropolitan Police initially said on X.
Three soldiers received treatment for non-life threatening injuries, an army spokesperson told BBC News. A fourth person believed to be a cyclist was also injured.
The horses were rehearsing with members of the Household Cavalry military members who perform ceremonial duties around Buckingham for a Major General’s Inspection set for Thursday in Hyde Park, the army told the BBC.
City of London Police, the force in charge of the capital’s financial district, said officers had managed to contain two horses and were waiting for a horse carrier from the British Army to collect them and take them to a veterinarian.