Ajman taxi driver runs down two people in protest against dismissal

The driver wanted the company to pay him Dh25,000 as part of his pending salaries and end of service benefit so he could return to his home country.

AJMAN // A taxi driver in Ajman went on rampage yesterday in protest against his dismissal from work.

Lt Col Abdullah Saif Al Matroushi, the director of Ajman Police CID, said that police managed to arrest the driver.

"The police was notified of his mad actions after he [ran] down the two people near his company offices," he said.

"By the time the police arrived on the scene he was inside the company with a knife in his right arm demanding for his end of service payments."

He said the driver had struck taxis and also smashed the companies' computers as he shouted his demands.

He wanted the company to pay him Dh25,000 as part of his pending salaries and end of service benefit so he could return to his home country.

"On entering the building the situation was tense and all workers inside were afraid. Police asked him politely to put the knife down and they talk[ed] about his problems, he was arrested on [the] spot," Al Matroushi said.

The two injured were carried to Sheikh Khalifa hospital in Ajman.

Police said the driver admitted to attempted murder, destruction of property and assaulting staff and has been referred to prosecutors.

Al Matroushi has urged the public to resolve problems with their employees amicably or report them to authorities without resorting to violence.