Two Uber bosses arrested in France for running 'illicit' taxi service

Two Uber managers have been arrested in Paris and will be questioned over "illicit activity" linked to the ride-sharing smartphone application.

The news comes just days after Paris was paralysed by a taxi driver strike which saw cabbies outraged by Uber set fire to tyres and block main roads leading to the city's main airport and train station. Their protest was sparked by claims the ride-sharing app was taking away their business by offering lower prices and not complying with local taxi licensing laws.

Uber, which operates as UberPOP in Europe, calls itself a ride-sharing platform instead of a taxi-hailing application.

A spokesperson for the Paris prosecutor did not name the Uber managers taken into custody.

Taxi drivers protested in Paris – and several other cities across the country – by blocking roads and setting fire to tyres, preventing traffic from accessing Charles de Gaulle (CDG) airport and Gare du Nord train station. They argue that UberPop is illegal and takes business away from traditional taxi drivers.

Serious disturbances

France's interior minister has since asked for a nationwide ban of the UberPop ride-sharing application.

Interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve said last week: "I have instructed, given the serious disturbances of public order and development of this illegal activity, the Paris Prefect of Police to take this day an order prohibiting UberPop activity."

Uber said it will continue as normal until the country's top court issues a ruling on whether its business is legal or not.

Travellers trying to reach France's major airports and train stations were forced to abandon their cars and walk along motorway hard shoulders.

Aeroports de Paris, which operates the city's Charles de Gaulle airport, said on its website: "Access by road is completely blocked. The only way to get to CDG is by train."

Photos published by the Reuters news agency show piles of burning tyres and upturned cars blocking major roads.

UberPop continues to operate in France, despite a new law coming into force on 1 January forcing all paid drivers to carry the relevant licence and insurance.

French officials claim Uber is now illegal under the new law, but courts have allowed it to continue operating in the country for now, pending a ruling on its legality from a constitutional court; Uber's case there began on 23 June.

IBTimes UK has asked for a comment from Uber and will update this article when we get a reply.