On the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, MI5 Director General Ken McCallum wrote an opinion piece for the Independent warning that the next major terrorist shock will not look like the last. He said agencies must avoid preparing solely for yesterday’s enemy with yesterday’s methods.

Broader threat landscape

McCallum noted that while al Qaeda’s capabilities have diminished, the group and other militants still seek mass‑casualty attacks. He cited a recent foiled plot targeting the Jewish community in Manchester as evidence that extremist intent remains alive.

State‑backed aggression and private‑sector vulnerabilities

The MI5 chief also highlighted rising state‑backed aggression, ranging from sabotage by criminal proxies to cyber‑attacks on power stations. Unlike in 2001, many critical systems are now operated by private companies, making a coordinated response among government, businesses, and academia essential.

“We cannot wait for the next shock to discover who owns the vulnerability, who has the authority to act, or who was supposed to pick up the phone,” McCallum wrote. He urged immediate preparation, resilience building, and swift crisis response to protect future generations.

McCallum’s remarks come as the UK continues to reassess its counter‑terrorism strategy, balancing traditional intelligence work with new partnerships across the private sector to safeguard the nation against evolving threats.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.