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A Prague tram driver was caught on video striking a man who was holding a child while shouting anti-Ukrainian remarks. The footage, which has gone viral on Czech social media, has drawn public outrage and the attention of officials.
The video, shared by news site Vinegret.cz, shows the driver yelling “Get out!” and “You have no right to be in this country at all” before hitting the man.
An eyewitness, who filmed the incident, described the encounter as “brutal.”
“These were our Ukrainians who had a child in their arms, and he kicked them out of the tram, threatened them, and hit them. The child was scared,” the witness told Vinegret.cz.
Family speaks out
The child’s father, who wished to remain anonymous, told the site 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.
“My son wasn’t injured, but he was terrified when the driver hit his grandfather. My father wasn’t seriously hurt, but we haven’t decided whether to file a police report. We’re considering lodging a complaint with the Prague Public Transit Company first. My parents are worried about potential repercussions,” he said, adding that they plan to contact the police on Friday.
Driver wielded crowbar after confrontation
The family involved in the incident says the driver, after forcing them off the tram, continued shouting and then picked up a crowbar used to change the direction of the tracks.
According to the child of the father, “He didn’t swing it, but he held it so that it was clearly visible. What he intended to do with it is unclear.”
The driver also allegedly tried to snatch the grandmother's phone as she attempted to take a picture of him. “She only managed to take one photo. His behavior was completely inappropriate—no one deserves to be treated that way,” he added.
Vinegret.cz has contacted the Prague Public Transit Company for comment, but said a response is not expected until Friday morning.
Hate motivated attacks on the rise
The post caught the attention of Czech Human Rights Commissioner Klára Šimáčková, who commented on the publication's Facebook page: “This is unacceptable. I am in communication with the Ministry of the Interior regarding this matter.”
Ágnes Němečková, a member of the Czech Helsinki Committee and a child rights advocate, also commented on Facebook, stating that she will file a criminal complaint with the prosecutor’s office. The Ukrainian Embassy also commented on the video and confirmed the police are investigating.
Despite the incident being captured on video, many social media users have questioned why no bystanders intervened to help the family.
Hate-motivated attacks on Ukrainians and Russians in the Czech Republic surged in 2024, making up 23 percent of all biased violence cases, according to a new report released by the legal organization In Iustitia. The group encourages anyone who is the victim of or witnesses prejudicial violence to report it here.
Politicians, figures react
Senior Czech ministers reacted with disgust and condemnation at the incident. "I don't know exactly what preceded this conflict on the Prague tram. But whatever it was, the solution is not aggression on the part of the driver, especially in the presence of a small child," said Interior Minister Vít Rakušan.
"If you find yourself in a similar situation and you are unwilling or unable to intervene yourself, please call the police," he added.
Deputy Mayor for Transport in Prague Zdeněk Hřib said: "We are addressing this urgently, including the execution of legal proceedings as quickly as possible." The former mayor of Prague added: "I want to say here unequivocally, that public transport is there for everyone regardless of origin or nationality!"
In similar vein, Prague Mayor Bohuslav Svoboda said: "That a small child watches this aggression, both verbal and physical, is unforgivable."
The Prague Public Transport company said it "will use all legislative options to solve the case at the employment-law level." It also issued an apology.
