MI5 chief says Iran is targeting military sites and suspected plot at RAF Fairford is 'not unique’

MI5 chief Ken McCallum stated that Iran is targeting British military sites, warning that Tehran and Moscow are intensifying their attacks against the U.K. The suspected plot to attack a U.S.-run military air base in September, which resulted in evacuations and arrests, is not unique, according to McCallum. Iran summoned the British Ambassador to demand evidence linking Tehran to the alleged plot.

The U.S. pulled its bombers from RAF Fairford following the incident, as it believed Iranian threats were aimed at killing American troops and destroying U.S. planes. British officials have not confirmed this, but McCallum said Iran's IRGC has stronger capabilities in countries closer to Iran. In a significant speech, McCallum highlighted a "new era of national security" with threats ranging from arson and cyberattacks to AI's potential to change the stakes in bioweapons.