London: Britain faces a rapidly escalating security challenge, with hostile states and terrorist organizations increasingly targeting the nation, MI5 Director General Ken McCallum warned on Thursday. Speaking at MI5’s headquarters in London, McCallum highlighted a 35% rise in investigations involving state-sponsored threats, emphasizing that nations like Russia, Iran, and China are employing tactics once largely associated with terrorism.
McCallum revealed that MI5 has successfully disrupted numerous surveillance and attack plots, including over 20 potentially lethal operations linked to Iran. Russia, according to the MI5 chief, has orchestrated espionage and sabotage activities, including arson attacks on Ukraine-linked businesses in London, with connections to the Wagner mercenary group. Earlier this year, six Bulgarians were jailed for spying for Russia, while five men were convicted of the arson offenses, illustrating the scale of covert operations on British soil.
China’s activities, McCallum stated, include cyber espionage, attempts to influence UK public life covertly, and harassment of pro-democracy activists. Meanwhile, Iran is aggressively seeking to silence critics internationally, with documented plots in Australia and the Netherlands reflecting Tehran’s global reach.
Beyond state threats, the terrorist danger remains significant. Since 2020, MI5 and police have disrupted 19 late-stage terrorist plots, with groups such as al-Qaeda and ISIS exploiting global instability to expand influence and recruit operatives within the UK. McCallum warned that the blend of state-sponsored aggression and organized terrorism poses a complex security landscape, as hostile actors increasingly use proxies, including criminals and vulnerable individuals, to carry out attacks.
In response, MI5 is enhancing collaboration with European intelligence agencies and intensifying domestic vigilance efforts, urging the public to report suspicious activity. The UK government is expected to review its defense strategies and policies to counter the growing spectrum of threats, reflecting the evolving nature of global security risks and the need for proactive countermeasures.