 "UK faces growing threats from Russia, Iran, China and extremist groups, warns MI5 chief")
Britain is confronting an unprecedented rise in security threats from hostile states such as Russia, Iran and China while the risk of terrorism remains “huge,” with al Qaeda and Islamic State attempting to inspire new attacks, the country’s domestic intelligence chief warned on Thursday.
MI5 Director General Ken McCallum said investigations into state-backed threat activity had risen by 35%, with rival nations increasingly resorting to the same “ugly” tactics often used by terrorist organisations.
Speaking at MI5 headquarters in London, McCallum said the agency had foiled “a stream of surveillance plots with hostile intent” linked to Russia and had uncovered more than 20 Iran-backed operations that could have proven deadly.
“In 2025, MI5 is contending with more volume and more variety of threat from terrorists and state actors than I’ve ever seen,” McCallum said in his annual address.
The UK government has repeatedly accused Russia, Iran and China of hostile actions ranging from espionage and cyberattacks to assassination attempts, allegations all three countries have consistently denied.
Earlier this year, six Bulgarians were jailed for spying for Russia by carrying out surveillance on its behalf while five men were also convicted of carrying out an arson attack on Ukraine-linked businesses in London which British officials said had been ordered by Russia’s Wagner mercenary group.
”With our partners across Europe, MI5 will keep detecting those who take orders from Russian thugs,” McCallum said.
”And we will keep following the trails back to those giving the orders, who imagine they’re anonymous and unfindable behind their screens. They’re not.”
Impact Shorts
More ShortsHe said China was guilty of cyber espionage, luring academics to China, interfering covertly in UK public life and the harassing of pro-democracy dissidents in Britain.
On Iran, he said Tehran was ”frantically” trying to silence its critics around the world, and cited how Australia had exposed Iranian involvement in antisemitic plots and Dutch authorities had revealed a failed assassination attempt.
He also said the terrorist threat to Britain remained ”huge” with MI5 and police disrupting 19 late-stage attack plots since the start of 2020.
”Al Qaeda and Islamic State are once again becoming more ambitious, taking advantage of instability overseas to gain firmer footholds,” he said.
With inputs from agencies
 "End of Macronism? Why the pension reform became the breaking point of Macron’s presidency")
 "They’re all dropping out of Brics, claims Trump. This is far from the truth")
 "A ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan but who called it remains unsettled")
 "‘Naxalism on its last legs’: Amit Shah declares Chhattisgarh’s Abujhmarh, North Bastar as Naxal-free")
 "End of Macronism? Why the pension reform became the breaking point of Macron’s presidency")
 "They’re all dropping out of Brics, claims Trump. This is far from the truth")
 "A ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan but who called it remains unsettled")
 "‘Naxalism on its last legs’: Amit Shah declares Chhattisgarh’s Abujhmarh, North Bastar as Naxal-free")
