Britain is currently facing a significant increase in assassination attempts on its soil by Russia and Iran, as revealed by the head of the U.K.'s domestic intelligence agency. MI5 director Ken McCallum highlighted that hostile states are enlisting criminals to carry out these attacks, labeling the situation as a 'staggering rise' in such activities.
McCallum disclosed that his agency and law enforcement have thwarted 20 plots backed by Tehran since 2022. He cautioned that Iran might broaden its targets in the U.K. if Israel were to retaliate against Iran's missile attacks. The escalating conflicts in the Middle East have heightened the risk of increased Iranian state aggression within the U.K., according to the spy chief.
In a rare public address outlining the major threats faced by the U.K. from hostile states and terrorist groups, McCallum also warned of potential terror attacks in the U.K. stemming from Israel's conflicts with Iran-backed militant groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.
Despite the Middle East crisis not yet resulting in widespread terrorist violence in Britain, McCallum emphasized the complex and interconnected threat environment posed by hostile states, individual attackers, and a resurgent Islamic State group.
MI5 has seen a 48% increase in state-threat investigations over the past year, with Iran, Russia, and China identified as the primary perpetrators. McCallum specifically pointed out Russia's military intelligence agency's attempts to sow chaos through activities like arson and sabotage in the U.K. and other European nations.
Both Russia and Iran have been known to engage criminals, ranging from drug traffickers to petty criminals, to carry out their attacks. The U.K.'s current terror threat level is 'substantial,' indicating a likely attack, with MI5 and the police having disrupted 43 late-stage terror plots since 2017.
While the majority of terror plots are linked to Islamic extremist ideology, a significant portion also stems from extreme right-wing beliefs. McCallum highlighted the diverse range of ideologies fueling these threats, including online hatred, conspiracy theories, and disinformation.
Moreover, there are concerning indications of the Islamic State group's resurgence, despite its territorial losses in Iraq and Syria. McCallum noted that the group has resumed efforts to export terrorism, adding a new layer of complexity to the existing threats faced by the U.K.
In conclusion, McCallum underscored the evolving landscape of threats, combining terrorist activities with state-backed plots of assassination and sabotage, against the backdrop of escalating conflicts in Europe.
