Britain’s domestic intelligence agency is now deploying more resources to counter state-level threats than at any point during the Cold War, according to BBC News – UK. The director general of MI5 delivered the stark assessment during his annual address at the service’s London headquarters.
Sir Ken McCallum told the audience at Thames House that threats from foreign adversaries have “quadrupled” in recent years, forcing the agency to balance its workload in an unprecedented way. He said MI5’s “terrorism and state threats operational missions are pretty much of equal scale” for the first time.
Russia remains what Sir Ken called “aggressor number one”, though he said the Kremlin is now waging “hybrid warfare” while carefully staying below the threshold that would trigger a collective NATO response. The intelligence chief described this as a line Moscow would be “foolish to cross”.
Russia forced to hire criminals after spy expulsions
According to the MI5 director, Russian capabilities on British soil have been severely degraded following nearly 1,000 expulsions of Russian operatives since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. With its traditional spy network “eviscerated”, the Kremlin has been reduced to paying criminal proxies to carry out attempted attacks.
“With its traditional covert footprint eviscerated by almost 1,000 expulsions since the invasion, the Kremlin’s global toolkit is weak. So we see them scrambling to pay criminals to do their bidding,” Sir Ken said. He added that Russia’s progress in Ukraine remains “minimal and horrifically costly” while it avoids direct conventional conflict with European nations.
Iran and extreme right-wing terror on the rise
The intelligence chief also warned that Iran is expanding hybrid operations in Britain. MI5 made over 50 arrests in the past year connected to Iranian activities, many of which targeted Jewish communities and military installations.
Sir Ken highlighted a marked increase in extreme right-wing terrorism, particularly among young people radicalised online. He revealed that MI5 had recently investigated a 13-year-old with extreme right-wing views in the UK, and that intelligence from that case enabled an international partner to prevent a lethal attack on foreign soil.
The terrorism threat level was raised to severe in April for the first time in five years, meaning an attack is considered highly likely. Both Islamist groups such as Al Qaeda and so-called Islamic State continue to direct and inspire attacks, while anti-immigration and anti-Muslim sentiment is increasingly tipping into terrorist intent, according to the agency.
AI weaponisation and bioweapon fears
Sir Ken warned that MI5 has already “caught terrorists seeking to exploit AI”, including attempts to integrate artificial intelligence with drone technology. The threat he expressed most concern about was extremist groups using AI to develop bioweapons, a risk he said was “not yet realised” but had the “potential to change the stakes”.
The 2023 National Security Act, designed to prosecute people working against UK interests for foreign powers, is now “in heavy use” to tackle threats from China, Iran and Russia, the director confirmed.
What this means for Poles in the UK
The heightened security environment affects all UK residents, including the Polish community. With the terrorism threat at severe, police and security services recommend remaining vigilant in crowded places and reporting suspicious activity via the confidential anti-terrorist hotline on 0800 789 321 or gov.uk/ACT.
Poles working in sensitive sectors – defence, research, technology or critical infrastructure – should be aware that foreign intelligence services actively target individuals with access to valuable information. MI5’s website offers guidance on protecting yourself and your workplace from espionage. Anyone approached by a foreign agent or offered payment for information should report it immediately to local police or MI5 directly.
The Polish community, like other diaspora groups, may also be of interest to hostile states seeking to gather intelligence or exert influence. Be cautious of unsolicited contact from individuals claiming to represent foreign governments or organisations, particularly if they request meetings or information about your work or contacts.
