French patrol boat heard firing shots during interview

A French patrol boat has appeared to fire a round of gunshots in the English Channel during a BBC interview with an MP.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp MP was being interviewed about small boat crossings by BBC journalist Michael Keohan as a French warship passed byat 09:15 BST (10:15 CET), aboutthree miles from the French coast.

Noises which sounded like 17 gunshots fired in succession were heard in the background and an officer on the boat was seen pointing a pistol at the sea.

The BBC has approached the French coastguard for comment, while the UK government said it was in contact with the French authorities to understand the full context of the incident.

The French ship was approximately 300m away from the boat where the BBC was conducting the interview with Philip.

Keohan said there were 17 shots, adding: "There was no warning for our boat, no signs given that this was the French's intention."

Philip said 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".

At sea, Keohan described it as "the most unusual moment... in the quiet of the Channel" when the gunshots rang out mid-interview.

A French patrol officer at the back of the boat was seen pointing a pistol towards the sea. It is believed that is 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."

The captain of the fishing boat, Matt Coker, said he had "never seen anything like it before".

A Home Office spokesperson said: "We are in contact with the French authorities to understand the full context of this incident."

Earlier this month, a Russian warship, shadowed by a Royal Navy vessel, carried out a live-fire artillery exercise just 46 miles (74km) south of Plymouth.

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