Shots fired at Uber vehicle in Istanbul amid protests from taxi drivers

ISTANBUL

Shots were fired at Uber vehicle in Istanbul’s Küçükçekmece district late on March 10, as tensions between taxi drivers and Uber drivers continue to rise in the city.

No injuries were reported in the incident, state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

The incident occurred after a driver hit the road to pick up a passenger from Istanbul’s Halkalı district. While using an alternative route to try to avoid traffic, a local man stood in the street in the Kanarya neighborhood of Halkalı to halt the vehicle.

After hitting the bonnet of the vehicle, the man took out a gun and fired four bullets. The Uber driver then fled the scene.

No casualties or injuries were reported, and police have started an investigation into the incident.

Following the attack, Uber released a statement about the rising number of violent incidents targeting Uber vehicles in Turkey. 

“Our priority is to stand alongside our Uber driver partners in these difficult times, providing them with the necessary legal help and support,” the statement read.

Recently on March 7, a group of taxi drivers physically assaulted Uber drivers after calling them to quiet corners of the city, pretending to be customers, daily Habertürk reported.

Such incidents occur almost every day, the newspaper reported. Uber driver Oğuz Usta, who says he was the victim of one such attack, has brought the issue to the attention of prosecutors, who are now investigating his claims.

Tensions have risen in recent weeks as taxi drivers complain that they are losing customers to Uber.

Uber has been operating in Istanbul since 2014 and currently has more than 3,000 drivers, according to Habertürk.