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In a recent interview, Ken McCallum, the Director General of MI5, revealed some concerning insights about the rising threats facing the UK from various sources. He pointed out that Russia’s intelligence agency is actively trying to instigate “sustained mayhem on British and European streets.” This revelation came during his annual briefing on the security challenges currently confronting the UK.

McCallum highlighted the activities of Russian GRU agents, noting their involvement in “arson, sabotage, and other reckless actions” in response to the UK’s support for Ukraine amid its conflict with Russia. He also mentioned that since 2022, MI5 has responded to 20 plots believed to be linked to Iran. However, he emphasized that the majority of MI5’s efforts are still concentrated on combating Islamist extremism, followed by extreme right-wing terrorism.

The landscape of these threats is intricate, as McCallum pointed out, leaving MI5 with “one hell of a job on its hands.” During his detailed address, he shared several alarming trends:

– There’s a rising trend of young people becoming involved in online extremism, with 13% of those investigated for terrorism being under 18.
– Since 2017, MI5 has successfully thwarted 43 imminent plots that involved firearms and explosives intended for “mass murder” in the UK.
– The agency has observed a 48% increase in investigations related to state threats.
– The allocation of counter-terrorism resources is heavily weighted, with about 75% directed towards Islamist extremism and 25% to extreme right-wing terrorism.
– He described the “dizzying range of beliefs and ideologies” that MI5 must navigate in their operations.

Reflecting on his long career, McCallum remarked, “The first 20 years of my career here were filled with terrorist threats. Now, we also confront state-backed assassination and sabotage plots, all in the context of a major land war in Europe.” He noted that the UK’s “leading role” in supporting Ukraine places it prominently in what he called the “fevered imagination of Putin’s regime,” which may lead to further acts of aggression on British soil.

Currently, the UK’s terror threat level is classified as substantial, indicating that an attack is likely. This highlights the ongoing and complex challenges MI5 faces as it strives to ensure national security.