MI5 tackling more state threats than during Cold War, warns intelligence chief
The head of MI5, Sir Ken McCallum, warned that the agency is facing an unprecedented level of state-sponsored threats, particularly from Russia and Iran. He highlighted the rise of hybrid warfare, the exploitation of AI by terrorists, and the need to counter foreign interference.
Why it matters
The warning underscores a shift in global security priorities, moving from traditional counter-terrorism to complex state-level hybrid threats.
Image source, PA Media Image caption, Sir Ken McCallum gave his annual address at MI5's headquarters in central London
MI5 is devoting more resource to countering state threats than during the Cold War, the head of the intelligence service has said, as he labelled Russia "aggressor number one".
Sir Ken McCallum warned MI5 was now facing a situation in which "our terrorism and state threats operational missions are pretty much of equal scale" because threats from foreign adversaries have quadrupled.
He used an annual speech at the domestic intelligence service's headquarters in London to also warn of rising threats from Iran and "extreme right-wing terrorism".
Sir Ken also said MI5 had "caught terrorists seeking to exploit AI", including by integrating the technology with drones - and warned the UK must stay ahead of the risk of new bioweapons being developed by violent groups.
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