Uber announced that it is working closely with Amsterdam law enforcement following the “abhorrent” anti-semitic attacks on Israeli soccer fans in the city. The company condemned the attacks and confirmed it is actively supporting police efforts to identify any potential involvement by rideshare drivers.
"We were shocked and saddened to hear of the abhorrent violence in Amsterdam. While there were no reported incidents of violence on any Uber trip, we’re actively supporting law enforcement as they work to identify the offenders," said an Uber spokesperson in a statement to the Washington Free Beacon.
The statement follows calls for boycotts by Jewish activists after reports that Uber rideshare drivers have participated in the attacks on Israeli soccer fans who were visiting Amsterdam. The Washington Free Beacon reported that allegations surfaced on social media suggesting that some individuals used the Uber platform to coordinate the assaults. However, Uber has denied these claims, stating that there is no way for drivers to communicate through the app.
"To be clear, drivers can’t use the Uber Driver app to communicate with one another, so no coordination of the violence took place on our platform," the spokesperson clarified.
Law enforcement is investigating the role of rideshare and taxi drivers, following reports that some drivers might have assisted in organizing the violence. A correspondent for Israel’s Channel 12 News, Elad Simchayoff, shared that police warned Israeli tourists to avoid taxis, as some drivers were allegedly involved in helping organize the riots.
The violence left at least five people hospitalized, and over 60 individuals have been detained. Jewish leaders have referred to the attack as a “pogrom."
