Five Injured as Military Horses Bolt Through Rome After Fireworks Set Off Near Rehearsal
Dozens of Italian military horses broke loose and galloped through central Rome on the night of Thursday, May 29, after fireworks were detonated near their staging area during a rehearsal for the annual Republic Day parade, injuring five people and damaging several vehicles. The horses had been gathered near the Baths of Caracalla for a late-night rehearsal ahead of Italy’s Festa della Repubblica parade on June 2 when a battery of fireworks was set off approximately 200 metres away, allegedly by a municipal traffic officer on duty in the company of several colleagues. Global Banking and Finance
The horses fled the secure area and surged onto Via Cristoforo Colombo, a major thoroughfare in Rome. They were eventually recovered at various points along the road as far as the EUR district, a modern quarter several kilometres south of the city centre. Euro Weekly NewsThe Local
The officer has admitted to setting off the firecrackers, allegedly as a joke, but claimed it was done without intending to cause any harm. The Carabinieri launched an enquiry and notified the public prosecutor’s office. The charges under consideration include bodily harm and the unauthorised ignition of fireworks. Global Banking and Finance
Three members of the Italian military, one female police officer, and one municipal officer sustained injuries during efforts to calm and halt the panicked animals. Two of the injured are in serious condition, though authorities confirmed their lives are not in danger. Euro Weekly News
At least one animal was also hurt. One horse suffered an impact with a small car during the escape. Veterinarians from multiple military units continued treatment for horses that experienced trauma, with reports indicating one animal faces potentially lasting damage. The Local
Eyewitnesses described scenes of terror. One person present at the rehearsal said it was the most frightening night of their life, adding that the horses had knocked over anyone and anything in their path. Others who happened to be driving near the Baths of Caracalla described seeing the animals galloping towards them without warning. Several vehicles sustained damage, and many drivers left the scene in shock. Global Banking and FinanceEuro Weekly News
Italian Special Investigations officers from Digos quickly identified the individuals linked to the fireworks. Evidence points to drunk motorcyclists who were in proximity to the rehearsal area when the fireworks were discharged, according to Euro Weekly News. The Local
The incident drew immediate condemnation from animal welfare advocates. Carla Rocchi, president of animal protection group ENPA, said: “We have reached the point where fireworks must be banned.” Global Banking and Finance
Regional and Global Impact
The incident has prompted a review of security arrangements for the June 2 Republic Day parade, one of Italy’s most significant national ceremonies. Rome authorities have stepped up checks for future events to prevent similar disruptions, and full recovery efforts are focused on getting every horse and rider prepared for the June 2 celebrations. The episode has also renewed debate in Italy about the regulation of fireworks in urban areas, with ENPA’s call for a ban finding broad resonance on social media in the hours after the incident. The Local
Background
Italy’s Republic Day on June 2 marks the anniversary of the 1946 referendum that abolished the monarchy and established the Italian Republic. The Festa della Repubblica parade is held annually along Via dei Fori Imperiali in central Rome and features mounted military units as a centrepiece of the ceremony. Rehearsals are conducted at night in the days preceding the parade, often near historical landmarks such as the Baths of Caracalla. A comparable incident occurred in London in April 2024, when military horses from the Household Cavalry bolted through central London after being startled by construction noise near Buckingham Palace, injuring four people and travelling as far as five miles before being caught. Euro Weekly News
What Happens Next
The Carabinieri investigation is ongoing, and the public prosecutor’s office in Rome will determine whether formal charges of bodily harm and the unauthorised ignition of fireworks are brought against the officer who admitted to setting off the firecrackers. Veterinarians are continuing to treat horses that experienced trauma, with at least one animal facing potentially lasting damage. The Italian Ministry of Defence has not issued a public statement on whether the June 2 parade programme will be altered in response to the incident. Rome authorities are expected to publish revised security protocols for the rehearsal area before the parade takes place. The Local
