Protests by French taxi drivers – furious over taxi aggregator Uber's operations in Paris – turned violent on Thursday as many of them resorted to burning tyres, setting up blockades and damaging cars.
The taxi drivers have been angry at the competition from Uber's both popular and controversial UberPop service, which allows an ordinary driver to easily become a taxi driver by connecting them to customers through a smartphone app.
The taxi drivers, who have to pay over $260,000 for a licence, see the Uber service as a 'danger' to their jobs as it weans away customers from other taxi services in the country.
The UberPop app, according to a government ruling, is illegal, but the service is still available in the country. The taxi drivers mainly want Uber to stop its UberPop services.
The situation in Paris is growing tense with every passing hour. The protesters have blocked all access to airports and train stations in Paris. "The goal is to block space because we are really fed up," Karim Asnoun of the CGT union told AFP.
Thousands of taxi-operators are expected to assemble in several other major cities of France.
Photos of UberPop protests shared on social media show piles of burning tyres and upturned cars blocking major roads in Paris. Several families with young children were forced to abandon their cars and walk through the crowd of protesters to reach the airport, The Independent reported.
American singer Courtney Love Cobain on Thursday also got caught in the violent protests, as the car she was travelling in was attacked by the protesters.
"Picketers just attacked our car... they've ambushed our car and are holding our driver hostage. They're beating the cars with metal bats... paid some guys on motorcycles to sneak us out, got chased by a mob of taxi drivers who threw rocks, passed two police and they did nothing," she tweeted.
Courtney later posted on Instagram: " We got out after being held hostage for an hour thanks to these two guys. I'm scared out of my wits. Mr. François Hollande president or libertine? I can't believe this really just happened. love French people but your government blows #happytobealive #parisuberstrike wtf??"
Twitter Reactions
Dude @kanyewest we may turn back to the airport and hide out with u.picketers just attacked our car #ParisUberStrike pic.twitter.com/MtanurybOO
— Courtney Love Cobain (@Courtney) June 25, 2015
Courtney Love Cobain ✔@Courtney
they've ambushed our car and are holding our driver hostage. they're beating the cars with metal bats. this is France?? I'm safer in Baghdad
Courtney Love Cobain ✔@Courtney
paid some guys on motorcycles to sneak us out, got chased by a mob of taxi drivers who threw rocks, passed two police and they did nothing
Shervin Pishevar @shervin
Our driver had to speed under bridges in Paris because they were stoning the chauffeur cars (black cars) from the top of bridges #uberparis
Protestons ne prenons plus de taxi comportement inadmissible #NoTaxiAnymore #Animaux @UberFR #Taxi/Sauvage #UberPop pic.twitter.com/X9SrjXS5yi
— Anthony ETIEN (@AnthonyETIEN) June 25, 2015
Manifestation anti-UberPop des taxis marseillais qui veulent la désactivation de l'application #Marseille pic.twitter.com/qYJ3j5bx4G
— Mickael Flores (@mickaelflores) June 25, 2015
Vtc retourné à Paris Porte Maillot par des taxis #GreveTaxi pic.twitter.com/VUWTnnFOIi
— Lila (@Lilabellili) June 25, 2015
La Porte Maillot est enflammée...! #UberPop #taxis Il va falloir trouver un accord car ce n'est plus possible pic.twitter.com/1ySMQhWlhS
— c_berger (@c_berger2) June 25, 2015