MI5 warns that Russia and Iran are intensifying operations, while terrorists are testing the use of artificial intelligence

Britain’s domestic intelligence service MI5 is currently allocating more resources to countering threats from states than during the Cold War, amid the intensification of operations attributed to Russia and Iran. MI5 Director General Sir Ken McCallum made the statement in his annual speech, delivered at the service’s headquarters in London.

McCallum described Russia as the “number one aggressor” and accused Moscow of waging a hybrid war in Europe, attempting to avoid a collective NATO response. According to him, the expulsion of nearly 1,000 Russian agents after the invasion of Ukraine has led the Kremlin to rely increasingly on intermediaries and criminals.

The head of MI5 announced that, over the past year, 50 people have been arrested in the United Kingdom in cases linked to Iran. Some actions were reportedly aimed at Jewish communities and military installations.

Another threat is the use of artificial intelligence by terrorist organizations for reconnaissance, attacks, and autonomous drones. McCallum warned that the technology could also amplify risks related to biological weapons, although such a scenario has not materialized so far. He also pointed to the rise of far-right radicalization online.

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