French patrol boat appears to fire gunshots in the Channel during BBC interview

Image source, BBC/Jack ValpyImage caption, Chris Philp MP, the Shadow Home Secretary, said the vessel fired 17 shotsByDaniel SextonSouth EastA French patrol boat appeared to fire a round of gunshots in the Channel, during a BBC interview with an MP.Chris Philp MP was being interviewed about small boat crossings by BBC journalist Michael Keohan as a French warship passed by.Noises which sounded like 17 gunshots being fired in succession were heard in the background and an officer on the boat was then seen pointing a pistol at the sea.The BBC has approached the French coastguard for comment on what happened.This Instagram post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on InstagramThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.Skip instagram postAllow Instagram content?This article contains content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Meta’s Instagram cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.The French ship was approximately 300m away from the boat where the BBC was conducting the interview with Philip.Keohan said: "There was no warning for our boat, no signs given, that this was the French's intention."Philp 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".Keohan said 17 gunshots rung out mid-interview.Image source, Chris Philp MPImage caption, The MP was being interviewed by the BBC at the time of the incidentAt sea, Keohan described it as "the most unusual moment... in the quiet of the Channel" when the gunshots rung 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."Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, external, on X, external, on Instagram, external and listen to BBC Radio Kent on Sounds. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk, external or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.