MI5 tackling more state threats than during Cold War, warns intelligence chief

Key Points:

• MI5 is allocating more resources to counter state threats than during the Cold War, with Russia labeled as "aggressor number one" and threats from foreign adversaries having quadrupled over the last decade.
• Sir Ken McCallum highlighted rising threats from Iran, including 50 arrests linked to Iranian activities targeting Jewish communities and military sites, as well as extreme right-wing terrorism.
• MI5 has detected terrorists exploiting AI technology, including AI-enabled drones, and is particularly concerned about extremist groups potentially using AI to develop bioweapons, prompting the launch of an AI Threat Assessment Centre.
• Russia is conducting hybrid warfare against the UK and Europe while avoiding direct NATO conflict, relying increasingly on proxies due to the expulsion of nearly 1,000 Russian spies since the Ukraine invasion.
• The UK's terrorism threat level was raised to severe in April, driven by Islamist groups and a significant rise in extreme right-wing terrorism motivated by anti-immigration and anti-Muslim grievances.