MI5 chief says UK security pressures are growing across several fronts
Constantvpn.com – Britain’s domestic intelligence service is now committing more effort to countering hostile states than it did at the height of the Cold War, MI5 director general Sir Ken McCallum has said. He described Russia as the foremost state threat while warning that Iran, extremist violence and the misuse of artificial intelligence are all adding to an increasingly demanding security picture.
Speaking at Thames House, MI5’s central London headquarters, Sir Ken said the service’s work against terrorism and state-backed activity has reached a similar scale. Foreign-adversary threats have increased fourfold, he said, leaving the agency to manage risks that range from espionage and sabotage to radicalisation and emerging technology.
Russia identified as the leading state threat
Sir Ken said Moscow was conducting hybrid activity intended to unsettle European countries without moving into open military conflict with Nato. Russia has avoided crossing the threshold that would trigger a collective response from the alliance, he said, arguing that doing so would be deeply unwise for the Kremlin.
He linked this approach to the continuing war in Ukraine, where Russia’s gains in its full-scale invasion have been limited despite an immense human cost. In Britain and elsewhere, intelligence and security measures have reduced Russia’s traditional ability to operate through intelligence officers under diplomatic or other official cover.
“With its traditional covert footprint eviscerated by almost 1,000 expulsions since the invasion, the Kremlin’s global toolkit is weak. So we see them scrambling to pay criminals to do their bidding.”
The reference to expulsions reflects the broad international response that followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Sir Ken said the shrinking of that established network had pushed the Kremlin towards using intermediaries, including criminals, for attempted attacks and other hostile activity.
“These are not the actions of a great power with the strategic upper hand.”
The warning highlights the difficulty of confronting operations designed to remain below the level of conventional warfare. Such activity can involve recruitment, surveillance, intimidation or attempted disruption, and may be harder for the public to recognise than a direct military confrontation.
Iran-linked activity and protections for communities
Iran was also accused of widening its own hybrid campaign in the United Kingdom. MI5 made 50 arrests over Iran-related activity during the past year, Sir Ken said. He noted that Jewish communities have been a major target, while military locations have also faced attention.
The National Security Act, introduced in 2023 to address activity carried out for foreign powers against UK interests, is being used extensively, he said. The law has been applied in cases involving threats connected to China, Iran and Russia.
The legislation forms part of a wider effort to give investigators and prosecutors tools for dealing with modern espionage, foreign interference and state-linked operations. Its importance has grown as intelligence agencies confront threats that can be arranged through online contacts, criminal networks and people who may not be formal intelligence officers.
AI creates new risks for terrorism investigations
Sir Ken said MI5 had already encountered terrorists attempting to use artificial intelligence to improve reconnaissance and attack planning. He specifically pointed to the possibility of AI being combined with drones, a development that could give established methods of violence a new dimension.
“We’ve caught terrorists seeking to exploit AI to improve their reconnaissance and attack methodologies, with AI-enabled drones adding a new twist.”
His greatest concern was the prospect of extremist groups using AI to develop biological weapons. He stressed that this danger had not yet materialised, but said the technology could alter the risk surrounding current or potential future bioweapons.
“These risks are real. The UK Intelligence Community – MIS, GCHQ, M16 -is working closely with the UK’s globally respected AI Security Institute to take them on.”
The concern is not simply about a single new tool. AI may allow people to process information, automate tasks or explore technical material faster than before. For security agencies, that means preventing misuse while keeping pace with technologies that are evolving rapidly and have many legitimate civilian applications.
Terrorism threat remains severe
In April, the UK terrorism threat level was raised to severe for the first time in five years, indicating that an attack was considered highly likely. Sir Ken said Islamist organisations including al-Qaeda and the group calling itself Islamic State continued to inspire and direct attacks.
He also identified extreme right-wing terrorism as a significant factor in the increased risk. The most striking recent development, he said, has been cases in which extreme anti-immigration and anti-Muslim grievances have moved beyond hostile rhetoric into terrorist intent.
“Over the last year the most marked trend has been an increase in cases where extremist versions of anti-immigration and anti-Muslim grievance are tipping into terrorist intent.”
Extreme right-wing cases often involve young people and are heavily shaped by online activity, Sir Ken said. He disclosed that MI5 had recently investigated a radicalised 13-year-old in the UK. Information generated through that inquiry helped an international partner stop a lethal attack on its territory.
The account underlines how early intervention, information-sharing and online safety have become central elements of counter-terrorism work. The threats outlined by MI5 differ in origin and method, but they share a common challenge: security agencies must identify danger before it becomes an attack, while hostile actors seek new ways to operate in Britain and beyond.
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