Several outlets report that unauthorized fireworks set off during a late-night rehearsal for Italy’s Republic Day parade in Rome trigger a mass horses stampede through city streets. Police say the incident occurs shortly before 11:30 p.m. on Friday, when fireworks startle dozens of ceremonial horses, some carrying riders and others being led nearby. The sound of the fireworks causes panic, and the horses bolt through the capital. Multiple reports state that riders are injured during the event, including soldiers referenced by one outlet, while the injured are described generally as riders or participants in the rehearsal. Reporting also differs slightly on who ignited the fireworks, with sources describing the act as being done without permission by a police officer—described as an officer or traffic policeman—rather than by a member of the public. Authorities characterize the fireworks as unauthorized and indicate the chaos occurs during the parade rehearsal, not on the official parade day.