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World News · October 13, 2026

MI5 chief warns of escalating hybrid threats from Russia, Iran

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MI5 Director General Ken McCallum delivered an annual threat update warning that the UK has entered a new era of national security characterized by escalating 'hybrid warfare' from Russia and Iran. McCallum identified Russia as the primary state aggressor, noting that Moscow is increasingly using criminal proxies for sabotage and cyberattacks to avoid direct military conflict. Simultaneously, Iran has expanded its targeting from dissidents and Jewish communities to include military installations, resulting in over 50 arrests in the past year. The briefing also highlighted the risks of artificial intelligence being used by extremist groups to develop bioweapons and enhance drone capabilities.

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Reported across the spectrum

  • MI5 is now devoting more resources to state threats than during the Cold War.
  • Russia is identified as the 'aggressor number one' against the UK.
  • Iran has shifted its targeting toward 'harder' targets, including military sites.
  • Over 50 Iran-linked arrests were made in the UK over the past year.
  • Russia and Iran are both accused of 'subcontracting' violence to criminal proxies.
  • AI poses a significant future risk regarding the development of biological weapons by terrorists.
  • The 2023 National Security Act is being utilized to counter these foreign threats.

Reported by only some outlets

  • Seven men were arrested and released on bail regarding the RAF Fairford incident.
  • Prime Minister Andy Burnham attributed the RAF Fairford incident to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
  • U.S. bombers were reportedly withdrawn from RAF Fairford following the incident.
  • MI5 has investigated a 13-year-old linked to extreme right-wing terrorism.
  • MI5 has launched a new AI Threat Assessment Centre.

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