MP's shock as French warship in Channel 'fires shots'

Image source, BBC/Jack Valpy Image caption, Chris Philp MP, the Shadow Home Secretary, said that the vessel fired 17 shots By Daniel Sexton South East Published 28 July 2026, 11:48 BST Updated 2 minutes ago An MP has said a French patrol boat fired gunshots while he was in the English Channel conducting media interviews. Chris Philp MP was being interviewed about small boat crossings by BBC South East when what he believes to be a French warship passed by. Noises which sounded like gunshots were then heard in the background, according to BBC journalist Michael Keohan. The BBC has approached the French coastguard for comment on what happened. Keohan said 17 gunshots rung out mid-interview. No notice or training exercise were in place, with Philp saying he believed it was an intimidation tactic or warning shots. He said it "felt to me like an attempted intimidation to stop us covering migrant crossings". Image source, Chris Philip MP Image caption, The MP was being interviewed by the BBC at the time of the incident At sea, Keohan described it as "the most unusual moment... in the quiet of the Channel" when 17 gunshots rung out mid-interview. He said he saw a French patrol officer at the back of the boat pointing a pistol towards the sea and believed that was where the shots came from. Keohan added: "There was no warning for our boat, no signs given, that this was the French's intention. "Even now it's still not clear what the patrol boat was aiming at." Follow BBC Kent on Facebook , external , on X , external , on Instagram , external and listen to BBC Radio Kent on Sounds . Send your story ideas to [email protected] , external or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Related topics Dover English Channel