Iran, Russia ramping up hybrid campaigns in Britain, MI5 Director-General Ken McCallum says

MI5 Director-General Ken McCallum has warned that Iran and Russia are increasing their hybrid warfare against Britain, targeting military sites and strategic interests, according to his annual speech on threats to the country. The biggest concern is the misuse of AI, as terrorists could potentially develop bioweapons or create new pathogens.

McCallum stated that state threats have quadrupled over the past decade, and the MI5 now allocates more resources to this issue than during the Cold War. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham claimed that Iran was highly likely behind a suspected plot against RAF Fairford, prompting a security alert and leading US President Trump to withdraw planes from the airbase.

Iran has denied involvement in the incident, and Russia also denies any accusations of hostile acts in Britain. However, McCallum believes Iran is increasingly aiming at harder targets, such as military sites, and has seen a rise in Iran-linked operations leading to over 50 arrests in the past year. He also noted that while Iran's capability to launch complex attacks using explosive drones is limited, it is still a threat closer to Iran's homeland.

Russia is accused of using tactics just short of conventional conflict, such as the attempted drone attack on a cargo plane in Germany and a cyber attack on Polish energy infrastructure. McCallum emphasized that AI technology is supercharging the cybersecurity contest between attackers and defenders, with terrorists exploiting it for reconnaissance and attack methodologies, particularly in the area of bioweapons, which is currently being closely monitored.