Next 9/11 terror attack might be planned where we're not looking, UK spy chief warns
Key Points:
- MI5 Director General Ken McCallum issued a rare public warning on the 25th anniversary of 9/11, stating that the next large-scale terror attack may already be developing in an area not currently under scrutiny.
- McCallum emphasized that future threats will differ from past ones, urging governments, businesses, academia, and the public to collaborate on national security rather than leaving it to specialized agencies alone.
- While Al Qaeda remains a threat, other terrorist groups with ambitions for mass casualty attacks continue to pose risks, highlighted by a recent foiled Islamist plot targeting the Jewish community in Manchester.
- The MI5 chief also highlighted increasing state-backed threats, including sabotage and cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, underscoring the evolving nature of national security challenges.
- McCallum called for a collective national effort to prevent future attacks, stressing the importance of adapting security measures to emerging threats rather than relying on outdated methods.