LONDON (AP) — Two military horses that bolted and ran miles through the streets of London after being spooked by construction noise and tossing their riders were in serious condition Thursday after undergoing operations, a U.K. government official said.
The animals were among a group of four horses that broke free during routine exercises Wednesday near Buckingham Palace and caused chaos as they galloped loose through central London during morning rush hour. A fifth horse tried to bolt but couldn't break free.
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LONDON (AP) — Two military horses that bolted and ran miles through the streets of London after being spooked by construction noise and tossing their riders were in serious condition Thursday after undergoing operations, a U.K. government official said.
A white horse on the loose bolts through the streets of London near Aldwych, on Wednesday April 24, 2024. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)
Two horses on the loose bolt through the streets of London near Aldwych, on Wednesday April 24, 2024. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)
Two horses on the loose bolt through the streets of London near Aldwych, on Wednesday April 24, 2024. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)
A white horse on the loose bolt through the streets of London near Aldwych, on Wednesday April 24, 2024. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)
“Three of them are fine, two of them are unfortunately in a relatively serious condition and obviously we will be monitoring that condition,” defense minister James Cartlidge told Sky News. “They are in a serious condition, but as I understand, still alive.”
Three soldiers thrown from their steeds were hospitalized with injuries, but were expected to fully recover and return to work.
The British Army said three of the horses were expected to return to duty, but the fate of the two with the worst injuries was unclear.
Neither was believed to have broken bones, but a horse named Quaker was transferred to an equine hospital for specialist care, an army spokesperson said.
Vida, a white horse seen drenched in blood as it galloped down Aldwych, in between London’s historic financial center and the busy West End theater district, was treated for lacerations.
“Vida was the most visibly injured and the pictures of the horse running through London soaked in blood were horrifying," the army said in a statement.
The other loose horses from the Household Cavalry, the ceremonial guard of the monarch and a feature of state functions in London, are named Trojan and Tennyson.
During the wild spectacle captured by stunned commuters and shared on social media, the horses had near misses with cyclists and a rider on a motorbike at a traffic light.
Vida ran alongside Trojan, a black horse that could be seen sideswiping a taxi as it turned into oncoming traffic after running through a red light at an intersection.
One of the animals shattered the windows of a taxi it struck outside the Clermont Hotel and another smashed a windshield when it slammed into a tour bus.
Two of the horses were corralled at Limehouse about 5 miles (8 kilometers) from where they bolted. All the captured horses were taken back to barracks in Hyde Park.
Cartlidge said the army trains with about 150 horses every day, so the incident was exceptionally rare.
“Unfortunately we have seen what has happened, but all I can say is the crucial thing ... no serious injuries to the public as far as we aware, and of course we will be keeping an eye on the situation,” he told LBC.
The horses had been training for an upcoming military parade and were spooked by the crashing sound of construction materials at a work site in Belgravia, a swanky neighborhood just to the west of the palace, said Matt Woodward, commanding officer of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.
A day after the incident, more than 150 horses and close to 200 participants took part in the regiment's annual inspection at Hyde Park to demonstrate readiness for summer pageantry including Trooping the Color and state visits.
A small crowd gathered as mounted riders, dressed in black, red and gold uniforms with golden helmets, trotted to the beat of a brass band.
This story has been corrected to show that the black horse seen running with a bloody horse was named Trojan, not Quaker.
A horse collides with a taxi in London near Aldwych, on Wednesday April 24, 2024. Several military horses bolted during routine exercises near King Charles III's main residence in London on Wednesday and ran loose through the center of the city, injuring at least four people and colliding with vehicles during the morning rush hour. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)
A white horse on the loose bolts through the streets of London near Aldwych, on Wednesday April 24, 2024. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)
Two horses on the loose bolt through the streets of London near Aldwych, on Wednesday April 24, 2024. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)
Two horses on the loose bolt through the streets of London near Aldwych, on Wednesday April 24, 2024. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)
A white horse on the loose bolt through the streets of London near Aldwych, on Wednesday April 24, 2024. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)
Real Madrid needs fortress Bernabeu to live up to its reputation.
Paris Saint-Germain could do with some magic from the departing Kylian Mbappé.
Otherwise we could be set for a repeat of the 2013 Champions League final between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, who both showed in the first legs of the semifinals that they could yet block a Madrid vs. Mbappé showdown at Wembley Stadium.
That has felt like an ideal finale with Mbappé widely expected to move to the Spanish giant when he leaves PSG as a free agent at the end of the season.
But based on the first legs, Bayern and Dortmund haven’t read that script.
Bayern dominated Madrid for long periods at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday before Vinicius Junior’s late penalty secured a 2-2 draw for the record 14-time European Cup winner.
A day later, Germany striker Niclas Füllkrug struck the only goal of the game at the Westfalenstadion to give Dortmund a 1-0 advantage over PSG.
With such fine margins, there is all to play for in the second legs when Madrid and PSG will both have home advantage.
Madrid is unbeaten at home all season and targeting a record-extending 18th European Cup final - and a ninth in the Champions League era, which is also a record.
While six-time winner Bayern showed its credentials in the first leg, it has endured a troubled season in which its 11-year reign as German champion was ended by Bayer Leverkusen.
PSG’s dominance in France shows no sign of stopping after winning a record-extending 12th league title. But it has not been able to transfer that form to the Champions League despite signing some of the world’s greatest players — including Lionel Messi, Neymar and Mbappé.
Messi and Neymar have departed and Mbappé is set to leave. Which is why it would be the perfect send-off for the forward to finally end the Qatar-backed club’s search for European club soccer’s elite trophy.
Defeat at Dortmund has cast doubt over that, but PSG already produced a comeback to beat Barcelona in the second leg of the quarterfinals and Mbappé will be desperate to avoid an anticlimactic end to the season.
PSG vs. DORTMUND (TUESDAY)
PSG coach Luis Enrique has to rethink his plans in defense with Lucas Hernandez facing a long spell out after rupturing his left knee ACL in the first leg. He successfully underwent an operation on Saturday.
Hernandez was in good form and had also formed a solid central defensive partnership with Marquinhos, helping the Brazilian recapture his best form recently.
Enrique must decide who to select between Lucas Beraldo, utility player Danilo or Milan Skriniar.
The 20-year-old is Beraldo is inexperienced at the highest level, Danilo is reliable and good in the air but lacks pace and mobility, while Skriniar has only recently returned from a three-month injury layoff following ankle surgery.
Skriniar has played only one full game since then and Enrique may not risk him against a physical striker like Füllkrug, who poses a threat with his strong running and direct style of play.
Losing a player of Hernandez’s quaity is a headache Enrique really didn’t need, especially with his side having to score and more likely exposed to counter-attacks.
Enrique will also look for an improved performance from Kylian Mbappé, who failed to impress last week.
Dortmund counterpart Edin Terzić was able to rest his entire team with the exception of goalkeeper Gregor Kobel as his B-side ran out 5-1 winners over Augsburg on Saturday.
MADRID vs. BAYERN (WEDNESDAY)
Madrid will face Bayern as the newly crowned Spanish league champions after clinching the title on Saturday. With the domestic title all but assured, Carlo Ancelotti rotated his lineup. Defender Nacho Fernández was the only player to start both at Bayern and in its 3-0 win over Cadiz on Saturday.
The club is delaying the traditional celebration of its 36th league title with players and fans in downtown Madrid until Saturday to keep its focus on the Bayern game.
Madrid arrives to the second leg without any critical injuries and with all its scorers clicking. Jude Bellingham scored his 22nd goal overall in the win over Cadiz, while backups Brahim Díaz and Joselu Mato also found the net. Thibaut Courtois is expected to be in the squad, while Ancelotti has said that Andriy Lunin will again be in goal.
Bayern’s preparations were far from ideal with a 3-1 loss at Stuttgart and injury to Raphaël Guerreiro, who had made a good impact after coming on at half time in the first leg against Madrid. Bayern confirmed Sunday he will miss Wednesday’s match.
Bayern defender Matthijs de Ligt missed the first leg with injury but rejoined team training on Sunday.
AP Sports Writers Jerome Pugmire in Paris, Joseph Wilson in Barcelona and Ciarán Fahey in Berlin contributed.
James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Madrid's Vinicius Junior celebrates after scoring his side's second goal by a penalty during the Champions League, semifinal first leg, soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Real Madrid in Munich, Germany, Tuesday, April 30, 2024. (Matthias Balk/dpa via AP)
Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Champions League semifinal first leg soccer match between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Tuesday, April 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Dortmund's Niclas Fuellkrug, right, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Champions League semifinal first leg soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain at the Signal-Iduna Park stadium in Dortmund, Germany, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Dortmund's Niclas Fuellkrug celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Champions League semifinal first leg soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain at the Signal-Iduna Park stadium in Dortmund, Germany, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
PSG's Mbappe reacts after a missed chance during the Champions League semifinal first leg soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain at Signal Iduna Park, Dortmundm Germany, Wednesday May 1, 2024. (Bernd Thissen/dpa via AP)
