In brief
A French Navy patrol boat, PSP Flamant, fired 17 live rounds during a BBC interview with Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp, sparking alarm over safety and signalling tactics. The shots came 300 metres from the interview, unannounced, and the French authorities said it was a routine training exercise unrelated to the British vessel. Philp portrayed the incident as an intimidation move aimed at curbing coverage of migrant crossings, urging a formal response to the French ambassador. The Home Office confirmed they were in contact with French counterparts for details and contextualised the incident amid regional maritime security tensions.
Shots fired mid-interview by a patrol boat in the English Channel stirred alarm among UK officials.
At 09:15 BST on 28 July, British MP Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp was being interviewed by BBC journalist Michael Keohan when the French patrol boat PSP Flamant, approximately 300 metres from the interview site, discharged about 17 live rounds without warning.
Philp said the sudden volley felt like an intimidation tactic aimed at deterring coverage of migrant crossings and queried whether the boat was targeting the UK vessel or merely the interview crew.
French authorities later confirmed the shooting was part of a routine training exercise and not connected to the British ship, stating distances were out of range.
Philp responded that the incident highlights a clash between French defensive posture and handling of illegal crossings, pledging to raise the matter with the French ambassador; Home Office officials said they were in contact with French counterparts for further details.
The footage captured the moment the shots rang out, with a French patrol officer back on the boat pointing a pistol toward the sea. Photos accompanying the story show Philp on a small boat and the French patrol vessel in the background.
In the broader regional context, a Russian warship recently conducted a live‑fire artillery drill off Plymouth’s coast.
