Escaped circus lion sparks panic in Italian town near Rome as terrified residents ordered to stay indoors

AN ITALIAN town has been put on red alert after a lion escaped from a local circus.

Residents of Ladispoli, near Rome, were told to stay at home on Saturday after the beast went missing.

An Italian town outside of Rome has been put on lockdown after a lion escaped from a local circus

3

An Italian town outside of Rome has been put on lockdown after a lion escaped from a local circusCredit: X/TWITTER
One terrified onlooker captured the lion prowling the streets as they hid in their car

3

One terrified onlooker captured the lion prowling the streets as they hid in their carCredit: X/TWITTER
The mayor of Ladispoli has ordered local residents to remain inside their homes

3

The mayor of Ladispoli has ordered local residents to remain inside their homesCredit: X/TWITTER

Alessandro Grando, mayor of Ladispoli, issued the warning on social media, saying police were helping circus staff search for the animal.

“A lion escaped from the circus,” he wrote, saying it had been traced to watercourse next to the site.

“Please pay full attention and avoid travel until further notice.”

Anticipating residents’ complaints, he said he had not authorised the presence of a circus with lions in the town, but he did not have the power to block it.

Read more in World News

Videos have already surfaced on social media of the lion prowling through local neighbourhoods.

Terrified onlookers have filmed the animal from inside the safety of their homes as it makes its way through the darkness.

One person even captured the lion walking past their car as flashing lights from emergency services can be seen in the background.