Four people injured after escaped horses gallop through central London

Four people were injured on Wednesday (April 24) as escaped army horses galloped through central London.

Five horses were loose, and have been led to safety by the Met Police and the army. Video footage showed two horses running near Aldwych, while City of London Police recovered two near Limehouse. 

London Ambulance Service said four people were injured across three separate incidents.

At about 8.25am an ambulance was called and a person was taken to hospital after being thrown from a horse in Buckingham Palace Road. Two minutes later, paramedics were called to Belgravia Square. Two patients were treated and taken to hospital.

A fourth person was taken to hospital after an incident with a horse at about 8.35am at the junction of Chancery Lane and Fleet Street.

Westminster Police posted on X at 10.30: “We're pleased to confirm that all of the horses have been accounted for. We are continuing to liaise with the Army.”

Chief Inspector James Minney, of City of London Police, said: “At around 8.40 we were called about horses that had become loose and were travelling through the City. Our officers have contained two horses on the Highway near Limehouse. An Army horse box collected the horses and transported them to veterinary care.”

Inspector Myles Hilbery said: “This was a dynamic incident and the courageous actions taken by police officers from our Roads Policing team prevented further harm and distress to the horses and members of the public. Police Constables Lucy Hawes and Daniel McKeown risked their own safety to provide first aid to the injured and anxious horses. They kept the horses calm while waiting for a horse box and veterinary team to arrive.

“PCs Brett Daniels and Chris Wilson took over management of traffic control on the busy arterial road enabling PCs Rob Bray and Shaun Gurney on motorbikes to create a clear path for the horses to be safely led into the horse box and escorted back to the Army barracks for urgent medical care.

“Our thoughts are with those people and horses injured in the incident.”

The Army told the BBC Household Cavalry riders were on an extended exercise ahead of a major general's Inspection, due to take place tomorrow in Hyde Park in preparation for the King’s birthday. The horses were spooked by noise from building works. Four soldiers were thrown and five horses ran loose.

It said horses collided with traffic and that at least two of them appear to have been injured.

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Footage by ITV News showed two riderless horses, one of which appeared to be covered in blood, galloping through Aldwych.

London Fire Brigade’s Assistant Commissioner Keeley Foster 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 Belgravia 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."