Overview
- About 30–35 horses broke free from the Terme di Caracalla holding area and ran along via Cristoforo Colombo for several kilometers after sudden loud explosions during late Friday night rehearsals.
- Four service members were hospitalized with injuries sustained while trying to contain the animals; none are reported to be in life threatening condition.
- Carabinieri and the Polizia Locale have collected surveillance footage, transmitted an initial informative to the prosecutor and will question a 51‑year‑old municipal officer who investigators say admitted lighting a battery of fireworks.
- Roughly 15 horses were injured and one was euthanized, multiple civilian vehicles were damaged, and Rome’s municipal police command has provisionally excluded four officers from Republic Day duties pending the outcome of inquiries.
- The case raises safety questions about holding large mounted units near busy roads and an informal tradition of setting off fireworks during rehearsal nights that officials say they will now scrutinize for operational and public‑safety changes.