MI5 national security threat warnings 2026
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MI5 chief warns state threats exceed Cold War levels
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the security services had told him in 2016 there was no evidence of any successful interference in the referendum by Russia or any other power.
A 2020 parliamentary report did not reach a firm conclusion on whether Russia had tried to intervene in UK elections and referendums.
A No 10 spokesperson said the prime minister did not believe Russian efforts to influence the referendum result were successful.
MI5 director general warns Britain has entered a new era of national security
McCallum said Russia's military and intelligence services are once again escalating their attempts at hybrid warfare while being careful not to trigger NATO's Article 5 threshold.
McCallum said Iran's leaders have been attempting to expand their hybrid campaign of using criminal proxies to intimidate oppositionists, Iranian media organizations and Israeli sites.
McCallum said this year has seen a shift of Iranian ambitions to come at harder targets, like military sites.
“So we see them scrambling to pay criminals to do their bidding.”
MI5 chief warns of threats from Russia, Iran, and AI
Sir Ken McCallum described Russia as "aggressor number one."
Sir Ken McCallum said MI5 had caught terrorists seeking to exploit AI, including by integrating the technology with drones.
Seven people were arrested and bailed by counter-terrorism police in connection with the incident at RAF Fairford.
“almost certainly directed by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard.”