A disturbing incident involving a tram driver in Prague has ignited public outrage, prompting an official investigation by the transport company.

The driver is accused of aggressively ejecting a family, including a young child, from a tram, allegedly due to the child’s foot touching a seat.

The video depicts the tram driver shouting at a man holding a small child and a woman with a stroller. “You have no right to be in this country at all,” the driver yelled, interspersed with vulgarities, citing the child’s foot on the seat as the reason for the eviction.

The driver’s behavior escalated as he threatened, “Get out, or I’ll call the police,” and even lunged at the man. “We’re not touching,” the passenger responded, but the driver continued his tirade.

The child’s father, said that the man in the video is his 63-year-old father, who was taking his grandson home with his wife. “The driver got upset because my son was standing with his feet on the seat and looking out the window. Even though my father showed that his shoes were clean and immediately picked him up, the driver still reacted aggressively,” he said.

The man, who has lived in Prague for years, said his wife is Czech and his son, seen in the video, is a Czech citizen.

The driver repeatedly asserted he would call the police and declared that the tram would be halted “because of this gentleman,” referring to the passenger.

The recording shows the family, including a crying child, leaving the tram without any intervention from other passengers.

The reactions

The DPP has confirmed they are taking the incident seriously. “Whatever preceded the situation, such behavior is completely unacceptable, especially in front of a small child,” stated Deputy Mayor Hřib. “We are urgently addressing this with the transport company, including taking labor law steps as quickly as possible.”

“We immediately launched an internal investigation,” said Aneta Řehková, a spokesperson for the DPP, in a statement to Novinky. “The driver’s handling of the situation is in complete contradiction not only with the internal rules of the DPP but also with the laws of the Czech Republic and basic decency. We do not and will not tolerate such behavior.”