Five people were injured, with two taken to major trauma units, when parts of spectator stands collapsed at a Trooping the Colour rehearsal at Horse Guards Parade in central London.
The Army said one stand gave way just before 11:00 BST and part of a second stand collapsed a short time later.
London Ambulance Service (LAS) said two patients were taken to hospital for treatment as a priority.
Three others were treated at the scene with one later transferred to hospital.
Spectators were evacuated from the stands by the Army and police so that safety checks could be carried out.
A “partial structural failure” was to blame, the Army said. LAS has not confirmed the severity of the injuries that were sustained.
Marcus Dell, who was at the event, said he heard screams.
“Everyone had stood for the national anthem and there was a bit of a commotion. The first we heard was that one of floorboards had broken and someone had fallen through and hurt themselves.
“There was a lot of chatter in the stands and a few people did leave.”
He said a floorboard had cracked behind him and then about 25 minutes later, there was a similar incident in the stand opposite.
When the area was evacuated as a safety precaution there was confusion, Mr Dell said, although the “police did a good job of making sure there wasn’t any panic”.
[BBC – original article]
[Pictures – 1) BBC/DRELROND123 & 2) BBC]
