A spokesperson for Unauto VTC, a Spanish association for ride-hailing apps, told the Associated...

A spokesperson for Unauto VTC, a Spanish association for ride-hailing apps, told the Associated Press that there were dozens of assaults in Barcelona, resulting in two drivers being hospitalized. 

Photo via Jorge Franganillo/Flickr. 

Hundreds of taxi drivers across Spain descended upon Barcelona this week to protest the growing use of ride-hailing apps, such as Uber and Cabify, The Washington Post reports

The protest turned violent as taxi drivers began attack the vehicles of ride-hailing drivers, kicking and throwing rocks at them. Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau retweeted a video that shows taxi drivers kicking, attempting to smash the windows, and pulling off the windshield wipers of one Cabify driver's vehicle who had passengers in the car. 

Translation: This is the kind of thing that does not play in favor of taxis after a peaceful demonstration. Inside this Cabify was a French family with a little girl 

A spokesperson for Unauto VTC, a Spanish association for ride-hailing apps, told the Associated Press that there were dozens of assaults in Barcelona, resulting in two drivers being hospitalized. One of those hospitalized suffered first-degree burns to his face from an acid attack. 

As a result of the violence, Uber and Cabify announced yesterday that they were suspending service in the city.

Wednesday's protest was spurred by a recent court ruling that suspended the need for additional ride-hailing app regulations.

STAC, a union for taxi drivers, condemned the attacks on Twitter

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Michaela Kwoka-Coleman

Michaela Kwoka-Coleman

Assistant Editor

Michaela Kwoka-Coleman is an assistant editor for Auto Rental News and Business Fleet magazine.

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