MI5 head warns of quadrupled foreign state threats to UK security

On October 13, 2026, the head of the British intelligence service MI5, Ken McCallum, reported that threats from foreign states have quadrupled over the last decade. In his annual security address, McCallum stated that the agency is currently dedicating more resources to countering state-level threats than it did throughout the entirety of the Cold War. He warned of a significant escalation in hybrid warfare operations conducted by Russia across Europe and noted that Iran has shifted its tactical focus toward targeting military installations in the United Kingdom.

McCallum highlighted a dangerous evolution in Iranian operations, noting that they are no longer restricted to targeting dissidents, but now actively pursue more hardened targets, including military sites. This announcement follows reports of an ongoing investigation into a security breach at the Royal Air Force base in Fairford, which has been utilized by U.S. bombers for missions linked to Iran. Furthermore, the MI5 chief raised concerns regarding the potential exploitation of artificial intelligence in the future development of biological weapons. Security services continue to investigate these incidents as part of their broader, intensified efforts to mitigate growing international hostile activity.