{"id":205511,"date":"2026-07-28T11:59:26","date_gmt":"2026-07-28T11:59:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tahrir2day.com\/news\/2026\/07\/28\/french-patrol-boat-heard-firing-shots-during-interview\/"},"modified":"2026-07-28T11:59:26","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T11:59:26","slug":"french-patrol-boat-heard-firing-shots-during-interview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tahrir2day.com\/news\/2026\/07\/28\/french-patrol-boat-heard-firing-shots-during-interview\/","title":{"rendered":"French patrol boat heard firing shots during interview"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A French patrol boat has appeared to fire a round of gunshots in the English Channel during a BBC interview with an MP.<\/b><\/p>\n

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp MP was being interviewed about small boat crossings by BBC journalist Michael Keohan as a French warship passed by <\/b>at 09:15 BST (10:15 CET), about <\/b>three miles from the French coast.<\/p>\n

Noises which sounded like 17 gunshots being fired in succession were heard in the background and an officer on the boat was seen pointing a pistol at the sea.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The French ship was approximately 300m away from the boat where the BBC was conducting the interview with Philip.<\/p>\n

Keohan said: “There was no warning for our boat, no signs given, that this was the French’s intention.”<\/p>\n

Philp said he believed it was an intimidation tactic or warning shots.<\/p>\n

He said it “felt to me like an attempted intimidation to stop us covering migrant crossings”.<\/p>\n

Keohan said there were 17 gunshots.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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At sea, Keohan described it as “the most unusual moment… in the quiet of the Channel” when the gunshots rung out mid-interview.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Keohan added: “There was no warning for our boat, no signs given, that this was the French’s intention. <\/p>\n

“Even now it’s still not clear what the patrol boat was aiming at.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The captain of the fishing boat, Matt Coker, said he had “never seen anything like it before”.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Follow BBC Kent on <\/i>Facebook<\/i>, external<\/span>, on <\/i>X<\/i>, external<\/span><\/a>, on <\/i>Instagram<\/i>, external<\/span> and listen to BBC Radio Kent <\/i>on Sounds<\/i>. Send your story ideas to <\/i>southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk<\/i>, external<\/span> or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n