Horses Bolt Through Rome Avenue, Injuring Three

Chaos erupted on Rome's Cristoforo Colombo avenue when around 30 horses broke free and galloped through the street. The incident, which occurred during rehearsals for the June 2 Republic Day parade, left two police officers and one carabiniere injured as they attempted to control the animals. The horses were reportedly spooked by fireworks or other external stimuli.

Several horses sustained minor injuries while fleeing, and tragically, one had to be euthanized. The local police and Carabinieri have launched an investigation to fully reconstruct the events, examining hypotheses such as the detonation of firecrackers or fireworks in one or multiple locations simultaneously.

Videos of the stampede, captured by drivers and pedestrians, have circulated widely on social media, showcasing the alarming scene. One of the injured officers suffered a broken rib and lung contusion, while a female officer sustained facial bruises and abrasions. The investigation aims to determine if the horses were startled by a single event or multiple simultaneous occurrences.