Britain is facing a “staggering rise” in assassination attempts, sabotage, and other criminal activities on its soil, driven by Russian and Iranian state-backed operatives, MI5 Director General Ken McCallum said Tuesday. In a rare public speech, McCallum revealed that Russia’s intelligence agency, the GRU, is attempting to create “sustained mayhem” across the U.K. and Europe, while Iran has been linked to at least 20 assassination plots since 2022.
McCallum explained that both nations are increasingly recruiting criminals to carry out their operations. Iran has been targeting exiled dissidents, but McCallum warned that this aggression could expand within the U.K., especially as tensions in the Middle East grow. Iran’s involvement in the conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon, and Yemen heightens the risk of domestic terror attacks, although MI5 and law enforcement have so far managed to prevent any widespread violence.
Russia, meanwhile, has focused on sabotage and arson in retaliation for Britain’s support of Ukraine. More than 750 Russian diplomats, mostly identified as spies, have been expelled from Europe, pushing Russia to rely on criminal networks for its covert activities.
McCallum also highlighted a sharp rise in state-threat investigations—up 48% in the past year—amid the growing complexity of threats from nation-states and extremist groups. While Russia and Iran are the primary actors, China also remains a significant concern due to its aggressive espionage efforts.
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