Eight bulls on the loose after escaping Massachusetts mall rodeo

A herd of bulls were seen breaking free from a Rodeo in Massachusetts on Sunday afternoon.

Around 2.19pm the North Attleboro Fire Department announced that eight bulls 'are currently on the loose' after escaping the Emerald Square Mall rodeo.

More than an hour later the department announced that the bulls were 'safely corralled in Attleboro,' before revealing in a second post that one bull 'is still loose.'

'There is no immediate threat to the community. Thank you to everyone who assisted and shared information with first responders,' the department added.

When the bulls first escaped, the fire department warned residents in the area to 'exercise extreme caution' if they encounter the cattle.

'The North Attleboro Fire Department reports that eight bulls are currently loose from the rodeo at the Emerald Square Mall.

'Community members should exercise extreme caution and not approach any bulls. If you see a bull, please call 9-1-1- immediately,' the department said.

Video captured the moment the massive animals charged through a parking lot filled with cars and people as they jumped through a chain-link fence and galloped toward the road.

The herd was seen running past vendor tables as one of them led the pack, jumping on top of the fence.

A woman was seen nearly getting trampled as she ran out of the way in the nick of time.

After knocking the barrier down, the rest of the bulls quickly followed behind as worried onlookers watched in amazement.

Event staff personnel were then seen trying to move people out of the way as they tried to understand what just happened.

The video ended with the bulls running toward the exit of the shopping center near a busy highway.

Other clips of the runaway bulls quickly circulated online as one video showed some of the bulls making their way down a residential street as a person recorded from their porch.

Another clip showed the group of bulls casually strolling along a road just after a car passed by.

People quickly flocked to the original post and commented on the bizarre moment.

'They look so happy to be free,' one wrote.

'This is AMAZING,' said another.

Another person said: 'They been planning this escape for some time now today was the day.'

'I wasn't aware that they brought The Running of the Bulls to Massachusetts lmao #runningofthebulls,' said another.

'This is the most attention Emerald Square Mall has gotten since the early 2000's,' a commenter joked.

Others weren't as thrilled about the bulls' escape, with many fearing for the animals' safety.

'Those poor animals. I hope they catch them safely,' a commenter said.

A local resident wrote: 'Rodeos are animal abuse. Ashamed that this event was ever welcomed to our town.'

A person said: 'This won't end well for the bulls .. another reason not to have this foolishness where it does not belong!'

'Free them. They should go to a sanctuary now. If they don't get killed on the highway,' another wrote.

Kyle Massey said he was stopped at a traffic light after leaving the mall when he saw the bulls.

'I looked over to my right and I'd seen 6, 7 bulls or something like that, and I thought they were just walking around the parking lot with the people (from the rodeo),' Massey told WBZ-TV.

'Then I noticed they were getting closer, so I told my daughter, "I think they're on the loose," although I still didn't really believe it, because it's kind of unbelievable. So I started recording,' he added.