A French patrol boat fired approximately 17 shots in the English Channel during a BBC interview with British MP Chris Philp. Philp suggested the incident was an intimidation tactic to deter coverage of migrant crossings. French officials stated the exercise was routine naval training and unrelated to the British vessel. A former Border Force officer noted such shots could be part of naval exercises.
British MP Chris Philp suggested that approximately 17 shots fired by a French patrol boat in the English Channel were an intimidation tactic aimed at deterring coverage of migrant crossings. The incident occurred during a BBC interview with Philp aboard a fishing boat. French officials, however, stated that the shots were part of a routine coastguard training exercise and were unrelated to the British vessel. A former Border Force officer commented that such firing could be part of standard naval exercises. Philp accused French authorities of attempting to "intimidate" him following the shots fired near his boat during the exercise.