Russia, Iran expanding covert operations in Britain – MI5

Britain’s domestic intelligence chief has warned that Russia and Iran are expanding covert activities against the country, as security officials face growing concerns about sabotage, attacks on military facilities and the misuse of artificial intelligence.

Ken McCallum, director-general of the UK’s MI5 intelligence agency, said on Tuesday that state-backed threats had increased significantly over the past decade, forcing the organisation to devote more resources to countering hostile activity than it did during the Cold War.

McCallum said Iran was increasingly attempting to target more sensitive locations, including military sites, while Russia was intensifying its campaign of hybrid operations against Britain and other countries supporting Ukraine.

Hybrid operations can include sabotage, cyberattacks, covert intimidation and attempts to spread division or undermine public confidence without a conventional military confrontation.

According to Reuters, McCallum said Iran-linked operations had resulted in more than 50 arrests in Britain over the previous 12 months. He also warned that Russian activities were becoming more aggressive as Moscow continued its war against Ukraine.

The warning follows concerns raised by British authorities about an alleged plot involving RAF Fairford, an air base used by US forces. British officials have suggested that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps may have been behind a foiled attempt to target the facility. Iran has denied involvement in plots attributed to it.

McCallum said Russia remained Britain’s principal hostile state threat, citing alleged sabotage activities across Europe. He said some operations had involved people recruited through social media, including individuals who might not fully understand the interests of those directing them.

The intelligence chief also highlighted the potential security risks associated with artificial intelligence. He warned that terrorists could misuse the technology to develop biological weapons or create new pathogens, while hostile actors could use AI-generated content to influence individuals and deepen divisions within communities.

MI5 is establishing a new AI threat-assessment centre to help evaluate the risks posed by the rapidly developing technology, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.

The warning comes as Britain and its allies face a broader range of security challenges linked to the war in Ukraine, tensions involving Iran and the growing role of digital technologies in espionage and propaganda.

McCallum’s remarks underline the changing priorities of British intelligence agencies, which are increasingly required to counter threats involving state actors, online networks and emerging technologies alongside conventional terrorism.

(Reuters)