Britain's domestic intelligence chief has warned that hostile foreign states pose an unprecedented threat to UK security. Sir Ken McCallum, head of MI5, revealed that investigations into "state threat activity" have surged by 35% in the past year alone.
Russia, Iran and China are driving this dramatic escalation in threats, according to the Security Service director. MI5 is now "routinely" uncovering foreign plots targeting Britain through surveillance, sabotage, arson and physical violence.
Terrorism concerns persist
Despite rising state threats, terrorism remains an "ever-present" danger facing the UK. Alarmingly, one in five of the 232 terrorism arrests last year involved children under 17.
Since 2020, MI5 and police have successfully disrupted 19 "late-stage attack plots" across Britain. The agencies have also intervened in "many hundreds of developing threats" during this period.
Russia's hostile campaign
Moscow is "committed to causing havoc and destruction" around the world, McCallum warned during his speech at MI5's London headquarters. Russian intelligence services increasingly rely on "disposable" proxies recruited online after European nations expelled Russian spies from embassies.
"In the last year we and the police have disrupted a steady stream of surveillance plots with hostile intent, aimed at individuals Russian leaders perceive as their enemies," he said. Russia-based figures are also attempting to "sow the seeds of violence, chaos and division" in the UK through online platforms.
Iran and China threats
Iran is "frantically trying to silence its opponents around the world," with MI5 tracking "more than 20 potentially lethal Iran-backed plots" over the past year. The Tehran regime targets perceived enemies living in Britain.
China presents a different challenge, with McCallum describing the relationship as "by its nature complex". However, MI5 will "detect and deal, robustly, with activity threatening UK national security" regardless of diplomatic sensitivities.
New era for intelligence
The combination of persistent terrorism and rapidly escalating state threats has pushed MI5 into what McCallum called a "new era". He declared that "a more hostile world is forcing the biggest shift in MI5's mission since 9/11".
Foreign espionage now targets "our Parliament, our universities, our critical infrastructure" alongside traditional intelligence gathering. The Security Service must adapt to counter increasingly sophisticated and varied threats from multiple hostile nations.
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
