French warship fires warning shots near UK shadow minister
A French warship has been accused of “attempted intimidation” after it appeared to fire warning shots within 300 metres of a shadow minister who was filming a video on a fishing boat in the Channel, reports BritPanorama.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp was documenting small boat crossings when a French Navy vessel approached. According to The Times, a French officer fired 17 shots from a handgun, aiming away from Philp and the crew.
Posting to social media, Mr Philp stated: “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,” he added.
The fishing boat’s captain, Matt Coker, also expressed concern, stating he had “never seen anything like it before.” He remarked on the timing of the firing, which coincided with the warship passing by, noting, “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.”
Mr Philp reiterated the intimidation angle, asserting, “They started firing at the closest point to us on their course, right in the middle of the TV interview, which they would have seen happening. It felt to me like an attempted intimidation to stop us covering the migrant crossings.”
This incident occurred amidst Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s insistence that the government’s strategies for addressing small boat crossings are “working,” while acknowledging that further efforts are required.
Almost 900 migrants have crossed to the UK from France since Mr Burnham assumed office last Monday, including a notable instance where one “mega dinghy” carried 165 individuals on Thursday.
Speaking to reporters in Derby, the Prime Minister stated, “The Home Secretary has brought forward a very rigorous plan in relation to this, and let’s remember, the numbers can fluctuate but overall boat crossings are down, down quite significantly year on year. So that does suggest that the plan is working.”
When questioned about the potential national security threat posed by small boats, Mr Burnham affirmed the need for “all relevant and necessary checks” to be comprehensively executed.
He confirmed, “There have to be rigorous checks so that people are not put through into a situation where they are out without the relevant safeguards, and absolutely, I can give you a commitment that that is the clear instruction that I am giving.”
The Prime Minister noted that the situation needs to be managed effectively, reflecting on a commitment made throughout the Makerfield by-election campaign. “The public wants to see control being exerted, and while we’ve made progress, there is more to do,” he added.
Statistically, 77,183 migrants have arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel since Sir Keir Starmer’s election victory in July 2024. Recent Home Office data indicates that 13,007 arrivals have been recorded this year, representing a 45 per cent decrease compared to the same point last year and down 18 per cent relative to the same timeframe in 2024.
As the situation develops, scrutiny over maritime rights and the treatment of migrants remains a critical issue. The actions in the Channel underline ongoing tensions surrounding border enforcement and international relations.
