Britain is facing a significant increase in assassination attempts on U.K. soil by Russia and Iran, with criminals being recruited to carry out these attacks, according to MI5 director Ken McCallum. He highlighted the threat of Iran expanding its targets in the U.K. amidst escalating conflicts in the Middle East.
McCallum also warned of the potential for terror attacks in the U.K. due to conflicts between Israel and Iran-backed militant groups. He emphasized the complex and interconnected nature of the current threat environment, with state-threat investigations on the rise.
Russia’s military intelligence agency is reportedly seeking to create mayhem in Britain and other European countries through tactics like arson and sabotage, while both Russia and Iran are recruiting criminals for their operations.
Despite the official terror threat level being “substantial,” McCallum pointed out the resurgence of the Islamic State group’s efforts to export terrorism. The evolving landscape of threats presents a unique challenge for security agencies in the U.K.