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Philp accuses French navy
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp, an opposition MP from London, accused a French warship of firing “warning shots” while he was interviewed by the BBC on a fishing boat in the English Channel on July 28.
“carried out a handgun firing exercise off Cap Gris-Nez (Pas-de-Calais)”
Philp wrote on X that a “French warship approached close and fired 17 live rounds behind us,” and the BBC video captured shots as he spoke with a French vessel in the background.
French maritime authorities, the Prefecture maritime Manche mer du Nord, told AFP the sailors on the naval patrol vessel Flamant “carried out a handgun firing exercise off Cap Gris-Nez (Pas-de-Calais),” and said the exercise was unrelated to the presence of a British vessel outside the firing range.
Philp rejected the French explanation as “not credible,” insisting “there were no warnings in place about live firing training exercises,” while the French authorities said “signals required by international standards were displayed” and “safety perimeter was respected.”
Competing explanations and quotes
The Guardian described Philp hearing a volley of shots and turning to see a French gunship, quoting his post that “There was no notice or training exercise in place. Felt like warning shots or attempted intimidation.”
French authorities said the gunfire had “nothing to do with Philp or the BBC” and was conducted to ensure “operation readiness” amid international tensions.
Kevin Rowlands, a retired Royal Navy captain and journal editor at the RUSI thinktank, said it was unlikely the French were deliberately trying to intimidate Philp, adding that the handgun appeared to be aimed “in a safe direction”.
BBC journalist Michael Keohan called it “the most unusual moment … in the quiet of the Channel,” and said he saw a French patrol officer at the back of the boat pointing a pistol toward the sea.
Channel crossings and next steps
The incident unfolded as UK politics and Channel migration figures remained central, with The Independent reporting that almost 900 migrants had crossed to the UK from France since Andy Burnham took over No 10 last Monday, including one “mega dinghy” carrying 165 people on Thursday.
“Almost 900 migrants have crossed to the UK from France since Mr Burnham took over No 10 last Monday”
Burnham told reporters on a visit to Derby that “the numbers can fluctuate but overall boat crossings are down, down quite significantly year on year,” and he said the Home Secretary had brought forward a “very rigorous plan” to tackle small boat crossings.
Philp said he would be raising the incident with the French ambassador, while a Home Office spokesperson said: “We are in contact with the French authorities to understand the full context of this incident.”
The Guardian also reported that a Home Office spokesperson said: “This is a matter for the French authorities,” leaving the dispute over intent—intimidation versus training—squarely with France’s explanation.
