- Chris Philp was being interviewed about small boat crossings when a French warship fired shots nearby.
- The French Navy officer fired 17 shots from a handgun, aiming away from Philp.
- Philp described the incident as an attempted intimidation to stop coverage of migrant crossings.
- Keohan described the moment as 'the most unusual moment... in the quiet of the Channel' when the gunshots rang out mid-interview.
- The captain of the fishing boat, Matt Coker, believed it was an attempt at intimidation, stating he had 'never seen anything like it before'.
- Philp was in the Channel to cover migrant crossings, which have increased recently after a hiatus due to windy conditions.
- A total of 881 migrants have crossed in 13 boats in the past five days, including a record of 165 in a single 'mega dinghy' on Thursday.
A French warship fired 17 shots in the English Channel during a BBC interview with shadow home secretary Chris Philp, who was discussing migrant crossings. The incident occurred near Boulogne-sur-Mer, with Philp claiming it was an attempted intimidation to halt media coverage.12347
Philp stated, “They started firing at the closest point to us on their course, right in the middle of the TV interview, which they would have seen happening. It felt to me like an attempted intimidation to stop us covering the migrant crossings.” The French Navy officer fired the shots from a handgun, aiming away from Philp, but the act raised serious concerns about press freedom and safety in the region.
The captain of the fishing boat, Matt Coker, echoed Philp's sentiments, saying he had “never seen anything like it before” and believed it was an attempt to intimidate them. The incident highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding migrant crossings, with almost 900 migrants having crossed to the UK from France in just the past week.6
Philp's social media post captured the moment, stating, “On the channel today monitoring illegal migrant crossings… a French warship approached close and fired 17 live rounds behind us.” This alarming event raises questions about the conduct of naval forces in the area and their impact on media operations.
The situation remains tense as the UK grapples with increasing numbers of migrants attempting to cross the Channel, including a record of 165 migrants in a single “mega dinghy” on Thursday.
“During the incident, Philp stated it felt like an intimidation tactic to hinder media coverage of migrant crossings, which have surged recently. The captain of the fishing boat, Matt Coker, echoed this sentiment, noting he had never witnessed anything like it before.”
The Independent
The Times
