The ambulance service was first called at 8:25 a.m. (3:25 a.m. ET) and by 10:30 a.m. the Army said the animals had been contained and returned to camp.

“A number of personnel and horses have been injured and are receiving the appropriate medical attention,” it said in a statement.

The City of London Police said in a statement that it was “pleased to confirm that all of the horses have been accounted for. We are continuing to liaise with the Army.”

While this pandemonium was ensuing, the clock in the Elizabeth Tower — more commonly known as Big Ben, the city’s most recognizable landmark and usually an icon of stability — stopped without explanation at 9 a.m.

Some users on social media reflected that the dramatic scenes resembled a portent for some apocalyptic event, though it was unclear whether the horses being caught would ward off such a scenario.