Passengers have blasted Uber for increasing fares in parts of the capital amid the London Bridge terror chaos as the attack left Black Friday shoppers and commuters afraid to use the Underground.
Customers claimed the taxi-hailing app was showing surcharges of 1.7 times the normal price as Londoners were also hit by severe delays on the Tube.
The company was slammed in the wake of the 2017 London Bridge attack as disgusted users claimed it had ‘ramped prices up in hit areas knowing people need to get home’.
It comes less than a week after Transport For London revoked the app’s right to work in the capital after finding at least 14,000 trips were made with drivers who were different to the ones advertised.
One man who said he was going from the DoubleTree Hilton hotel in Victoria to Jermyn Street, a distance of 1.4 miles, today claimed he was having to pay double for what should have been a £5 to £7 fare.
One man who was going from the DoubleTree Hilton hotel in Victoria to Jermyn Street (left), a distance of 1.4 miles, today claimed he was having to pay nearly double for what should have been a £5 to £7 fare (right)
He told MailOnline: ‘I am now being charged double!!’
Ronald Dacey claimed on Twitter: ‘Rejoicing at Uber’s loss of licence …. go check your favourite alternatives right now if you are trying to get out of London Bridge …. surcharge @ x2.5 minimum.’
Paul Cook, whose Twitter says he is a ‘cabbie from south London’, said: ‘I bet Uber are surging tonight, they did it last time.’
And another social media user posted: ‘#Uber say they are not surging in the #LondonBridge area but half a mile down the road they are…’
He added: ‘Remembering the last London Bridge attack they did! So if you walk to Blackfriars you can expect to pay 2X surge.’
Angry Uber customers took to social media to claim the taxi-hailing app had put on a surcharge after the terror attack today
UberUK tweeted earlier today: ‘A serious security incident is currently underway at London Bridge and a number of roads have been closed.
‘We recommend you avoid the area while emergency services respond. Your safety is our number one priority. Prices will not surge in and around the area.’
An Uber spokeswoman added this evening: ‘This is categorically not true. Surge was switched off in the surrounding area within minutes of the incident occurring.’
The capital was rocked by yet another terror attack today as a knifeman with a fake suicide vest was shot dead by police on London Bridge.
Two innocent members of the public died after the maniac went on a rampage shortly before 2pm.
Dramatic video shows him being tackled to the ground by at least six heroic members of the public.
The chaos led to widespread transport disruption, with the Circle Line, Hammersmith & City Line and London Overground all struck by severe delays.
The District Line also had minor delays.
The chaos led to widespread transport disruption, with the Circle Line, Hammersmith & City Line and London Overground all struck by severe delays (pictured)
Today’s terror attack saw brave people pile on top of the suspect, before police dragged the last bystander to safety and opened fire.
Officers were heard shouting ‘stop moving’ twice before shooting the man at close range.
One of the heroes was on the other side of the bridge, before tackling the man and wrestling the knife off him.
The suspect lay on the ground still moving as officers backed away – clearly fearing they were still in danger.
Up to five people were stabbed before the knife maniac ran onto London Bridge shortly before 2pm this afternoon, where dramatic video (pictured above) showed he was tackled to the ground by at least six heroic members of the public
One of the bystanders on London Bridge was seen holding a knife (left) which appeared to have been taken from the suspect. Another man – believed to be the shot knifeman – could be seen lying on the ground, close to a knife (circled, right)
The alleged knifeman is pictured above on the floor with armed police on the right hand side. The is seen wearing the fake explosive device. The officers appear to be pointing their guns at him
The eyewitness video appears to show a man on the pavement of the north-bound carriageway on the western side today
Police immediately evacuated the south side of London Bridge near Borough Market, as hundreds of frightened bystanders screamed and ran for their lives as they heard shots being fired.
Witnesses described a scene of panic around London Bridge, with ambulance crews giving CPR to one victim on the floor near Monument Underground station and some people helped to their feet after falling over in the rush.
The incident comes two and a half years after the horrifying terrorist attack on London Bridge in June 2017 which saw Khuram Butt, 27, Rachid Redouane, 30, and Youssef Zaghba, 22, kill eight people and injure 48 others.
On Monday Uber was stripped of its London licence as a change in the company’s systems allowed unauthorised drivers to upload their photographs to legitimate Uber driver accounts, TFL said.
At least one driver picking up fares had previously had their licence revoked.
The company was given 21 days to mount an appeal but can continue to operate during that time.
It will have to convince a court it is ‘fit and proper’ by the time of the appeal.
Uber is also banned in a number of other countries or regions or countries such as Hungary or Barcelona, in Spain