MI5 Chief Warns of Rising Threats from Russia, Iran, and Extremists

Britain's MI5 chief Ken McCallum highlighted the threats posed by Russia, Iran, and extremist groups like al Qaeda and ISIS in his annual address. He detailed Russian espionage activities, Iran's backing of potentially lethal plots, and China's persistent attempts to access sensitive information.

Britain's domestic intelligence leader, Ken McCallum, has raised alarms over the dangers from Russia, Iran, and extremist organizations in his annual briefing. These threats continue to loom large over the United Kingdom's security landscape.

In his address, McCallum revealed that over 750 Russian diplomats, many deemed spies, have been expelled across Europe following Russia's aggression in Ukraine. This, he states, has significantly curbed Russian intelligence operations, with their reliance now shifting to criminal proxies in the UK and elsewhere.

The threat from Iran remains significant with MI5 addressing 20 Iran-backed plots since early 2022. McCallum also pointed out ongoing efforts to balance the complex UK-China relationship amid growing concerns of espionage and intellectual property theft.

(With inputs from agencies.)