PITTSBURGH — A startled camel started bucking during a circus when a child apparently threw a shovel at its feet, injuring six children and an adult and causing frightened circus-goers to flee the arena.

Two children and an adult were riding the camel during an intermission at the Shrine Circus at PPG Paints Arena when it became startled. Authorities say one child suffered a broken arm, while the injuries suffered by the others were considered minor.

The incident, caught on video, happened around 3:30 p.m. Sunday as people were buying rides on tethered camels, ponies or elephants led by handlers. Ruthie Kester, a Latrobe resident who was at the circus, told a TV station that a child threw a shovel used to clean up after the animals at the camel’s feet.

“They were giving camel rides and camels were walking around calmly. And then a kid threw a shovel at the camel’s feet, which startled the camel and it started to buck,” Kester said.

Jenny Lynch told a newspaper that a woman and two small girls were riding the animal before it was startled and reacted “like a bucking bronco.”

The camel was brought under control within seconds, and the circus resumed.