In his annual threat assessment, MI5 Director General Ken McCallum warned that Iran is stepping up attempts to strike harder targets, including military installations, on British soil. The UK’s domestic spy chief also highlighted an escalation in Russian hybrid warfare aimed at Ukraine’s allies.

Iranian ambitions shift toward military sites

McCallum told a gathering of security officials that Iran’s ambitions have moved “this year” toward harder targets such as military bases. He cited a recent suspected plot against RAF Fairford – a base used by U.S. bombers for strikes on Iran – as an example of this new focus. While the investigation remains ongoing, the director general stressed that the incident is not isolated, noting similar attempts have been reported worldwide.

Russian aggression remains the top concern

Regarding Russia, McCallum reiterated that the nation remains “aggressor number one” in Europe. He echoed other European intelligence agencies in describing Russian tactics as bordering on conventional conflict, citing a failed drone attack on a cargo plane at a German airport and a cyber‑attack on Polish energy infrastructure. The director general warned that Russia’s efforts aim to unsettle European homelands while its military campaign in Ukraine stalls and incurs heavy costs.

AI misuse and bioweapon fears

McCallum also warned that the greatest concern surrounding artificial intelligence is its potential misuse by terrorists to develop bioweapons or create novel pathogens. He called for heightened vigilance and resources to counter this emerging danger.

State threats have quadrupled

The MI5 chief highlighted that state‑sponsored threats have “quadrupled” over the past decade, prompting the agency to allocate more resources to counter‑intelligence than during the Cold War era.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham previously described Tehran as “highly likely” to be behind the Fairford plot, prompting a massive security alert and the temporary withdrawal of U.S. aircraft from the base.

While the investigation continues, McCallum’s remarks underscore a growing need for robust security cooperation between the United Kingdom, its allies, and the United States to deter hostile state actors.

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