LONDON (AP) — Five military horses spooked by noise from a building site bolted during routine exercises on Wednesday near Buckingham Palace, threw off four riders and caused chaos as they galloped loose through central London streets and collided with vehicles during the busy morning rush hour.
The commotion erupted when the horses from the Household Cavalry, which were conducting an extended exercise for an upcoming military parade, presumably became alarmed by the sound of concrete falling off a moving walkway at a construction site in Belgravia, a swanky neighborhood just to the west of the palace.
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LONDON (AP) — Five military horses spooked by noise from a building site bolted during routine exercises on Wednesday near Buckingham Palace, threw off four riders and caused chaos as they galloped loose through central London streets and collided with vehicles during the busy morning rush hour.
A white horse on the loose bolts 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)
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)
Five of the seven horses ran off and four soldiers were thrown off. Three of them were hospitalized with injuries. None of them were deemed to be life-threatening.
The horses — minus their riders — then ran through main roads in central London, hitting vehicles and stunning commuters as they headed to work. The horses were all captured shortly after and are back at the barracks in Hyde Park undergoing medical tests.
Witnesses saw one of the loose animals crashing into a taxi waiting outside the Clermont Hotel nearby, shattering windows. Another of the animals crashed into a tour bus, smashing the windshield.
Pictures and videos shared widely across social media show two of the horses — one white, one black — running at speed down Aldwych, in between London’s historic financial center and the busy West End theater district.
The white horse's face and legs were soaked in blood. A British Army spokesperson was not able to confirm what caused the injury.
Megan Morra, who was on her way to work, told the BBC that she saw the striking image of the white horse with a head injury.
“There was a lot of blood,” she said. “I was a bit distressed to be honest, looking at the poor horse.”
The horses are from the Household Cavalry, the ceremonial guard of the monarch and a feature of state functions in London.
The extent of the injuries the horses suffered were not immediately known.
In a video statement on X, formerly Twitter, Matt Woodward, Commanding Officer of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, said around 150 horses are exercised every morning in parks and on the roads to keep them fit and get them used to the surroundings and the noise so they are less easily panicked during parades.
“This morning, however, a small group of horses were spooked by some construction works on a quiet side road in Belgravia where building materials were dropped from height right next to them," he said.
“Thankfully, considering the frequency of exercise and numbers of horses involved, this type of incident is extremely rare," Woodward added., He thanked the emergency responders and members of the public for reacting quickly.
“This enabled swift treatment of our soldiers and helped bring our injured horses to safety,” he added.
The London Ambulance Service said it treated four people across three separate incidents in the space of 10 minutes after the incident erupted around 8:30 a.m.
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 bolts 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)
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)
CLEVELAND (AP) — Paolo Banchero's first taste of the NBA playoffs ended bitterly.
The Orlando Magic couldn't finish what they started.
After opening an 18-point lead in the first half, the Magic caved under pressure as the Cleveland Cavaliers rallied for a 106-94 win in Game 7 on Sunday to end a back-and-forth series in which home court meant everything.
Banchero scored 38 points — his third game with at least 30 in the series — but it wasn't enough as the Magic couldn't stop Donovan Mitchell when they needed to and had their season end in disappointment.
It was quite an experience for the sensational 21-year-old Banchero, who said Game 7 was more than he imagined.
“It was a hell of an environment and probably the most intense game I’ve ever played in my life,” said the 2022 No. 1 overall pick. "Every possession, the toll it takes on your body and your mind is immense.”
As the Cavs chipped away at Orlando's lead in the second half, Banchero said the Cleveland crowd was so loud that it was difficult for the Magic to call out offensive plays. He couldn't hear the instructions he and his teammates were getting from coach Jamahl Mosley and his staff.
Still, the Magic were only down seven points going into the fourth before Mitchell, who finished with 39 and scored 89 combined in Games 6 and 7, put Orlando away.
It was a painful way for Orlando's breakout season to end. The Magic won just 34 games a year ago and there weren't many who predicted they would be a No. 5 seed heading into the playoffs.
Although the end was tough to swallow, one of the league's youngest teams gained invaluable experience.
“I walked in the locker room and said this sucks,” Mosley said. "To be up 18 and have a chance to close it out, it doesn’t feel good. But sometimes painful losses are blessings in disguise. I know it sucks right now, but I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
Mosley was adamant that his team didn't lose its cool or fold.
“I don’t think there was a loss of composure,” he said. "They went on a heck of a run and we got stagnant a little bit. There was no whining, no moaning, no yelling. Our guys were focused on how to get the next shot.”
While Banchero did his part, Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs shot a combined 3 for 28. Suggs, who sustained what appeared to be a serious ankle injury in the opener, was just 2 of 10 on 3-pointers.
“We got good looks and they just didn’t fall,” Suggs said. "I think we could live with that because we gave all we could. I’m sorry we couldn’t pull this one out.”
Wagner, who made bit shots and got under the Cavs' skin throughout the series, was tough on himself.
“I expect a lot more from myself," he said. "It sucks to end the season like this. I feel like I let my team down a little bit.”
Banchero had Wagner's back and the rest of his teammates.
“This game doesn’t define him and it doesn’t define us,” he said. "He didn’t let anybody down. Sometimes, this happens. I’ve been in the same situation. I know we’ll be back.”
This was all new for Orlando, which will have its entire core back next season and is expected to be active in free agency.
Next year will bring higher expectations, but the Magic should be ready for them.
“We won’t be lacking this experience next season in the playoffs,” said center Jonathan Isaac. "We’ll have this on our resume and have a chip on our shoulder to get back.”
Banchero showed why he's one of the league's rising stars, a player just beginning to scratch his potential. He averaged 27.0 points and 8.6 rebounds in his first playoff series, and in Game 7 tied a team record with 15 free throws.
“Special,” Mosley said of his young star. "He wanted every ounce of what they were throwing at him. There is a reason why he’s an All-Star and is going to be All-NBA. He’s going to show up in big games.”
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
Orlando Magic guard Markelle Fultz (20) and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchel (45) watch the ball in the first half of Game 7 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley gestures in the first half of Game 7 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell, right, grabs a rebound and is fouled by Orlando Magic guard Gary Harris, left, in the second half of Game 7 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero, center, falls between Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley, left, and teammate Markelle Fultz (20) after committing an offensive foul on Isaac Okoro in the second half of Game 7 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) is defended by Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley and forward Isaac Okoro, right, in the second half of Game 7 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) drives around Cleveland Cavaliers forward Isaac Okoro, right, in the second half of Game 7 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero, center, drives to the basket between Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley, left, ad Isaac Okoro (35) in the second half of Game 7 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
