A French patrol boat fired approximately 17 live gunshots in the English Channel near a fishing vessel carrying British Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp during a broadcast interview about migrant crossings.
The incident occurred around 09:15 BST, three miles off the French coast, as the French warship passed within 300 meters of the UK boat.
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A French officer standing at the stern was seen pointing a handgun toward the water as the vessel passed.
No official warning or advance notice of a training exercise had been issued.
Philp addressed the incident shortly after the shots were recorded by media crews on the water.
"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," said Philp.
He expanded on his initial reaction while analyzing the proximity of the foreign vessel during the broadcast recording.
"There was no notice or training exercise in place. Felt like warning shots or attempted intimidation," said Philp.
The lawmaker reiterated his concerns regarding the timing and location of the burst of fire.
"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," said Philp.
He reaffirmed his belief about the intent behind the sudden maneuver in the busy shipping lane.
