Violence involving hundreds of taxi drivers broke out at a protest against ride-sharing apps in Barcelona on July 25 , with local media reporting that cars, drivers and passengers were attacked.
This footage shows a group of men arguing with a driver in traffic at the intersection of intersection of Carrer de Girona and Carrer d’Aragó in central Barcelona. The group quickly grows, surrounding the car. Several men kick the car and hit it with objects. One person smashes a hole in the car’s rear window and another sprays paint over the right side of the car. The man defending the vehicle appears to scuffle with some of the men and is later seen holding his head, appearing to have sustained an injury.
The video was shot by Carlos Márquez, a reporter with El Periódico de Catalunya. Márquez said the car attacked was a Cabify vehicle, and that a French family were inside it. Storyful cannot independently confirm that report.
La Vanguardia reported that one driver’s face was burned with acid and another driver was beaten unconscious.
Elite Taxi, an organization of taxi drivers involved in the protests, condemned the violence and said it would expel those responsible if they were identified as members.
Unauto, which represents Uber and Cabify drivers, said both companies had suspended services in Barcelona citing concerns over the safety of their drivers. In a July 25 statement, Unauto expressed “outrage” and claimed “radical groups” were acting with impunity. It called on security forces to protect drivers and said it would cooperate with authorities so that perpetrators could be arrested. The organization said Uber and Cabify drivers were being denied their right to work and were at risk of physical harm.
The taxi drivers were protesting a decision by Catalonia’s Supreme Court to temporarily suspend a regulation that limits the numbers of VLC licenses in the city, pending a review of the law. The suspension followed an appeal filed by the Ministry of Development, which regulates transport services. VLC licenses are required by drivers of Uber or Cabify vehicles. Taxi drivers argue that the companies exercise unfair competition, according to El Diario.
On July 26, the second day of the two-day strike, El Pais reported that the ministry had withdrawn its appeal, but said the court would continue its review and would decide on July 27 whether it would continue to suspend the regulation. Credit: El Periódico de Catalunya via Storyful
