A French patrol boat allegedly fired gunshots in the English Channel while Conservative MP Chris Philp was conducting a BBC interview about small boat crossings, according to the lawmaker.
Philp, the Shadow Home Secretary, stated that he heard what sounded like 17 gunshots during the interview with BBC South East. He believes the incident involved a French warship and described the sounds as potential warning shots or an intimidation tactic aimed at preventing coverage of migrant crossings.
"It felt to me like an attempted intimidation to stop us covering migrant crossings," Philp said.
The BBC has approached the French coastguard for comment on the incident. At the time of the report, no notice of a training exercise was in place. MPI Chris Philp, in a grey t-shirt, stands on a boat in the sea. A large, grey ship is visible in the background. MPI Chris Philp, in a grey t-shirt, stands on a boat in the sea, speaking to a man with glasses in a pink shirt. A large, grey ship is visible in the background.