According to a report by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on July 28, Chris Pye, the Conservative Party's shadow minister for home affairs, posted a message on social media that day. He claimed that while inspecting illegal immigrants crossing the English Channel by boat, he was shot by a French warship nearby. The British government has contacted France regarding this incident, and as of now, France has not given any public response.
The footage showed a soldier standing at the rear of a French warship, holding a pistol. The Times.
At the time of the incident, Phelps was on a ship and giving an interview with the BBC, discussing the issue of illegal crossings. At that moment, a French warship passed by nearby. A French soldier standing at the rear of the ship fired 17 shots in Phelps' direction using a pistol. Phelps claimed that he believed the officer might have fired the shots as a warning or to intimidate, trying to prevent media reports of the illegal crossing incidents.
On-site BBC reporter Michael Keohan said that this is an unusual incident. "Our ship did not receive any warnings. Even now, the target of the French warship remains unknown."
A spokesman for the UK Home Office said that the British government has contacted the French government to understand the details of the incident. So far, the French side has not made any public response to Philp's statements.
