MI5 Chief Warns of Heightened Threats from ISIS, Russia, and Iran

“Chilling” is how the Daily Mail describes a recent speech by Ken McCallum, the head of the UK’s domestic spy agency MI5, as he elucidated the threats posed to the United Kingdom by Russia and Iran. This discourse was delivered on Tuesday and marked the first official threat update by the agency since 2022, detailing complications arising from areas such as the Middle East and regions closer to British soil.

In his address, McCallum warned of an elevated danger of terrorism with a particular emphasis on al Qaeda and ISIS, emphasizing that ISIS has resumed efforts to export terror, despite having been weakened over recent years. He pointed to an attack in March, perpetrated by an ISIS offshoot known as ISIS-K, as evidence of the group’s ongoing menace.

In addition to threats from extremist groups, McCallum highlighted the escalating hostile influence of Russia and Iran within the UK, describing the actions by Russia’s intelligence agency, the GRU, as part of a “sustained mission to generate mayhem on British and European streets.” It was noted that more than 750 Russian diplomats, many suspected spies, have been expelled from Europe following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, he mentioned.

The UK’s approach to these threats has involved expelling remaining Russian military intelligence officers from the country. However, a pivot towards cyberattacks by Russia has emerged, with proxies such as private intelligence operatives being used to execute malign agendas on behalf of hostile states.

Iran’s threat to the UK was described by McCallum as occurring at an “unprecedented scale and pace,” with the British authorities responding to 20 potentially lethal plots linked to Iran since 2022. He issued a stern warning to any individuals tempted to carry out illegal acts in the UK on behalf of foreign powers, particularly Iran or Russia.

McCallum was notably measured in his comments regarding China, acknowledging the complex nature of the UK-China economic relationship which supports British growth. However, he underscored that MI5’s scrutiny of China remains resolute, explaining that strategic judgments concerning China fall under ministerial purview.

This rising spectrum of foreign threats has pushed MI5 and police to counter 43 attack plots since March 2017, stretching their operational capacities. McCallum remarked, “Allocating our finite capacity is now harder than I can recall in my career,” in reference to the diminishing resources available to counter the myriad threats facing the UK.

Responding to a query from POLITICO regarding MI5’s workload, McCallum said, “It is about accurate to say that the overall volume of counterterrorism work we are doing in MI5 today has been, broadly speaking, about static for the last four or five years.” He highlighted a rise in extreme right-wing terrorism cases, which have offset reductions in Islamic State activity.

Furthermore, he noted a threefold increase over the past three years in cases involving individuals under 18, now representing 13% of their case load. McCallum concluded by stating that MI5 faces “pretty sharp pressure” in determining which threats to prioritize amidst limited resources.