Key facts
- A French patrol boat fired approximately 17 shots in the Channel.
- The incident occurred during a BBC interview with MP Chris Philp.
- An officer on the French vessel was seen pointing a pistol at the sea.
- The BBC journalist stated there was no warning before the shots were fired.
- MP Chris Philp suggested the firing was an attempt at intimidation to deter coverage of migrant crossings.
A French patrol boat reportedly fired approximately 17 shots in the English Channel while a BBC journalist was conducting an interview with MP Chris Philp. The incident occurred as the French warship, Flamant, passed by the boat where the interview was taking place. Chris Philp suggested the firing was an attempt at intimidation or warning shots aimed at deterring coverage of migrant crossings. A French patrol officer was observed pointing a pistol towards the sea, believed to be the source of the shots. The BBC journalist described the event as unusual and stated that no warning was given to their boat. The captain of the fishing boat also believed it was an attempt at intimidation. A former senior Border Force officer suggested that shots are occasionally fired during naval exercises, often using blanks, and that this incident might be unrelated to the interview.