PARIS—France’s interior minister, in a bid to halt a day of sometimes violent protests by taxi drivers angered by UberPop, said Thursday, June 25, that the low-cost car service must be shut down. He said orders would be given to seize their vehicles.
Bernard Cazeneuve’s announcement came after striking taxi drivers angered at a loss of income caused by cheap services like UberPop blocked highways, burned tires and smashed cars around France.
Cazeneuve met with taxi union representatives before the announcement in a bid to restore order. He said 70 vehicles were damaged, seven police officers injured, and 10 arrests made on Thursday when 30 legal complaints were filed against UberPop.
Among those caught up in the protests was singer Courtney Love, who tweeted her frustration, saying her ride form the airport was ambushed and she was rescued by two men on a motorcycle.
Cazeneuve said he would meet with UberPop officials to tell them their service “is illegal.”
“It must, therefore, be closed,” he said. “The government will never accept the law of the jungle.”
Taxi drivers said that the U.S. ride-hailing company Uber is stealing their livelihood. Rising tensions exploded into violence on Thursday.
Travelers going to and from the airport walked alongside highways with their bags. With roads blocked, some never made it to the airport.
