At Least 4 Injured After Runaway Royal Horses Gallop Through Streets of London

Four people have been injured after multiple horses belonging to the Household Cavalry got loose during a "routine exercise" on the morning of April 24.

The animals, stabled in Hyde Park Barracks, Knightsbridge, have now been returned and are being treated following the incident that occurred at approximately 8:25 a.m. local time, per the BBC.

“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 spokesperson for the British Army said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE.

“A number of personnel and horses have been injured and are receiving the appropriate medical attention,” they added.

The Household Cavalry is the most senior regiment in the British Army and regularly takes part in major state occasions, such as the coronation of King Charles and the funeral of Queen Elizabeth.

The London Ambulance Service confirmed to PEOPLE that four people had been taken to hospital after receiving treatment at the three locations. The BBC reported that this happened within 10 minutes of paramedics being called to Buckingham Palace Road, Belgrave Square, and the junction between Chancery Lane and Fleet Street.

PEOPLE understands six soldiers and seven horses from the Life Guards were exercising in the upmarket Belgravia neighborhood of London when some of the horses got spooked by the sound of some construction concrete hitting the floor.

Five horses got loose, with four soldiers being dismounted and three injured. The injured soldiers are still being assessed in the hospital, but none of the conditions are life-threatening.

The Metropolitan Police didn't immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE.

A cab driver named Robbie recalled seeing one of the horses covered in blood. "I was just outside Buckingham Palace on the Mall and heard loads of galloping and looked behind and there were about three or four horses," he told BBC Radio London.

"Two of them were sprinting up towards Trafalgar Square and there was a white one covered in blood as well," Robbie added.

"I looked in the rear mirror and saw them coming right up behind me, and at the time I had two punters (passengers) in the back so I was worried about them," he continued. "Luckily they swerved towards the middle of the road and carried on, but they were going at some speed."

Robbie said, "Nobody knew what was going on because there wasn't any police presence or anyone chasing the horses. We knew something had happened because they both had saddle gear on. I was worried about the horse because it looked like it was injured quite badly."

Images also showed damage done to a Big Bus Tours vehicle. The company didn't immediately respond when approached by PEOPLE.

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“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," the company said in a statement, per The Telegraph.

“Fortunately, none of our team members were injured. Our primary concern lies with the welfare of the riders and animals involved in the incident," it added. “We are currently coordinating closely with Emergency Services to assist in any way possible. At this stage, we have no further comments to provide.”