Military horses escape during parade preparations in Rome

On the night of May 29-30, 2026, approximately 30 horses belonging to the Italian military escaped while being held near the Baths of Caracalla in Rome. The animals, which were being prepared for the upcoming June 2 Republic Day parade, were allegedly frightened by the sound of fireworks. They ran onto the Cristoforo Colombo avenue, causing chaos in traffic and damage to several vehicles. During the effort to contain the animals, five people were injured: three soldiers, one police officer, and one municipal officer. While two of the injured individuals are in serious condition, their lives are not reported to be at risk. Sources differ on the initial holding location, with some reports citing the Imperial Forum and others the Baths of Caracalla. The horses were eventually recovered and returned to a secure area.