A group of Household Cavalry horses have run loose in central London after throwing off their military riders during an exercise.
One of the horses has also seemingly ran into a double-decker bus, smashing its windscreen after running loose near Buckingham Palace Road, Victoria.
Buckingham Palace Road was closed after the incident and a cordon was put in place while emergency services attended the scene. Four people have been taken to hospital following the incident.
A silver Mercedes-Benz people carrier was also reportedly hit, with damage to its side and two rear windows broken. Victoria Coach Station is also closed while emergency services attend the scene.
One of the horses was spotted covered in blood
PA
London Fire Brigade said one person was treated by ambulance crews and a horse had been "secured" and taken to an area of safety.
A spokesperson for the fire service said: "Firefighters were called at 08:31 BST to reports of vehicles in collision with horses in the area of Victoria Station.
"Crews are currently working alongside the London Ambulance Service at the scene of a collision between a taxi and a horse."
The fire brigade added one horse had been secured and taken to an area of safety.
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A black horse collides with a London Taxi after bolting down the A4 near Aldwych
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The horses were on the loose in central LondonPAA spokesperson from the Met Police said: "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."
Bashir Aden, 48, a construction worker, told The Telegraph: "I saw a soldier falling down into the street after the horse ran into a car. One of my colleagues called the police. The man hit the floor hard, he was screaming in pain. You could see blood all over the parked car."
A spokesperson from the London Ambulance Service said: "We were called at 8.25am today to reports of a person being thrown from a horse on Buckingham Palace Road, SW1W. We sent resources to the scene including ambulance crews, a paramedic in a fast response car, and an incident response officer.
"Our first paramedic was on the scene in five minutes. The incident is still ongoing and we are working with our emergency services partners."
Two horses on the loose bolt through the streets of London near Aldwych
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Traffic was stopped at nearby Bressenden Place
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A spokesperson from the City of London Police said: "At around 8.40am, we were called about horses that had became 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."
Big Bus Tours has confirmed that a horse ran into one of its parked buses. A spokesperson 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."
Workers clean a street in Victoria, London after two escaped horses, which have now have been contained, were seen running around central London
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Assistant Commissioner Keeley Foster, who helped co-ordinate the London Fire Brigade’s response, said: "London Fire Brigade was alerted at around 8.30am today to report of several horses that had bolted on Buckingham Palace Road in Central London.
"Crews and officers were mobilised to the scenes of two collisions, including one near Victoria Railway Station where a horse was involved in a collision with a taxi.
"We also assisted and worked closely with partners after a person fell from a horse in Belgrave Square.
"Due to reports that several horses were unaccounted for, the Brigade’s response for large animal rescues was also alerted, along with the drone team and National Interagency Liaison Officers to assist in the search and the horses were quickly accounted for."
Horses were spotted in central London
Reuters
An Army Spokesperson told GB News: "A number of military working horses became 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."
