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During a live BBC interview, a French Navy patrol vessel unexpectedly fired handgun shots in the English Channel without issuing any prior warning. The incident occurred at approximately 09:15 BST (10:15 CET), close to the French coast, roughly three miles offshore. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp MP was being interviewed by BBC journalist Michael Keohan about small boat crossings when the French warship passed nearby.
According to Keohan, the Navy boat discharged 17 shots from around 300 metres away, with no indication or warnings given beforehand. Philp perceived this as a deliberate attempt to intimidate the media and obstruct their reporting on migrant crossings. The captain of the fishing boat from which the interview was conducted, Matt Coker, described the event as something he had never witnessed before. The French authorities later clarified that the shooting was part of a routine training exercise unrelated to any operations involving migrant boats and that the British vessel was outside the range of fire.
Keohan remarked on the unusual nature of the moment, highlighting how the silence of the Channel was interrupted by the gunfire. An officer aboard the French patrol boat was seen aiming a pistol toward the sea, believed to be the location where the shots originated. Despite the clear display of live firearms, it remains uncertain what the French patrol aimed at, as no warnings were communicated to those on the fishing boat.
Following the event, Philp expressed his frustration, stating it was remarkable that the French Navy would use live rounds in what he saw as a defensive act against a visiting British politician, yet reportedly take little action against illegal Channel crossings. He criticized France for allegedly allowing people smugglers to pass through and shifting the responsibility to the British coastguard. Philp indicated his intent to raise the matter with the French ambassador. Meanwhile, the UK Home Office said it was engaging with French officials to gather further details about the incident
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
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