Shadow home secretary Chris Philp was filming a BBC interview on a fishing boat in the English Channel when pops of gunfire rang out. A French warship had fired 17 live rounds behind him, he later claimed.
In a video posted on X, Philp and BBC journalist Michael Keohan are seen turning to look as shots are heard. Philp wrote: 'On the channel today monitoring illegal migrant crossings… as I was being interviewed by the BBC just now a French warship approached close and fired 17 live rounds behind us. There was no notice or training exercise in place. Felt like warning shots or attempted intimidation.'
“Tory MP Chris Philp accuses French navy of firing 17 live warning shots near him in Channel as France battles record wildfires.”
The Times, which also joined Philp on the boat, reported that a French navy officer standing on the stern of the warship fired the shots, aiming away from the MP. The vessel was named the Flamant.
The Prefecture maritime Manche mer du Nord said the Flamant was carrying out a handgun firing exercise, adding: 'This exercise was unrelated to the presence of a British vessel in the area, which was outside the range of the shots fired. The Flamant was not involved in a migrant boat surveillance operation.'
Philp dismissed this explanation as 'not credible', saying: 'There were no warnings in place about live firing training exercises. They fired the live rounds at the closest point of approach to us – and didn't fire anything that we saw before or after. It looked and sounded exactly like deliberate intimidation.'
The incident occurred a few miles off Boulogne-sur-Mer, an area known for migrant crossings. Matt Coker, captain of the fishing boat, told the Times: 'It sounds like it might have been an effort to intimidate us. It could well have been, it might have just been a little bit of a warning shot. Maybe just to show a force or something.'
Philp said he would raise the matter with the French ambassador, adding: 'It is extraordinary that the French navy will fire live rounds to defend their waters against a visiting British politician but cannot bear to do anything about stopping illegal Channel crossings. If France showed people smugglers half the seriousness they showed me, the boats would stop. Instead, the French wave them through and pass them off to the British coastguard so it's our problem.'
In a separate development, France is battling devastating wildfires that President Macron has described as 'the most difficult situation' since World War Two. All regions are potentially at risk, with flames nearing the Atlantic coast and advancing to within nine miles of Bordeaux. Holidaymakers have been forced to leave campsites around Lacanau, 40 miles from Bordeaux, as firefighters race against time before a forecast 40C heatwave.
Gironde mayor Blandine Sarrazin told local media: 'We are facing two particularly critical days, with the heatwave and the very dry forest. This is the third fire to start here in the last two and a half days, it's really difficult.' She said it was not yet safe for residents to return home.
Officials say the largest blaze has 'stabilised' but warn it could burn out of control again as temperatures rise. Additional fires continue to burn, with local officials warning the inferno could continue for months. France's interior minister, Laurent Nunez, said wildfire season is 'far from over' and announced 184 suspected arsonists have been arrested since the start of summer.
The dual crises highlight the diverse challenges facing France this summer – from internal security to international relations.
