An Uber driver in the United Kingdom forced a Jewish child and a Jewish summer camp director out of his vehicle on a rural road late at night, following a conversation about Judaism and Israel that the driver initiated, according to a report published by The Jewish Chronicle.
The incident occurred about 10 days ago and was disclosed over the weekend. It took place shortly after 3 a.m. in Staffordshire, a county in northwestern England.
The passengers, a director at a Bnei Akiva Jewish summer camp and a child attending the camp, were returning from a nearby hospital when the driver stopped the car and ordered them to get out, despite the late hour.
According to The Jewish Chronicle, the driver began discussing religion and Israel during the ride. At some point, he pulled over and told the two passengers to leave the vehicle.
In an email sent to parents several hours after the incident, camp organizers said they were working closely with their security provider, the Community Security Trust, and Staffordshire Police to review what happened and implement additional safety measures.
“The safety and well-being of our participants remain our top priority, and we are treating this matter with the utmost seriousness,” the message said.
Staffordshire Police told the Jewish newspaper that a taxi driver asked a man and a child to exit the vehicle following a conversation about religion. “The investigation is ongoing,” police said.
The Community Security Trust described the incident as “shameful,” saying that a child who had been taken to hospital was thrown out of an Uber on the return trip to camp.
“Staffordshire Police have provided security advice to the camp, and we are in close contact with them,” CST said, adding that it would report the incident to Uber.
An Uber spokesperson told The Jewish Chronicle that the behavior described was unacceptable and that the company’s specialist team was urgently investigating the matter.