Britain’s domestic spy chief, MI5 Director General Ken McCallum, says Iran and Russia are increasing hybrid campaigns against the UK. McCallum warns that Iran is seeking harder targets, including UK military sites, while Russia is escalating hybrid activity aimed at undermining or targeting Ukraine’s allies.
In his annual speech on threats to Britain, McCallum also highlights the risks posed by emerging technology. He says the biggest concern over misuse of artificial intelligence is that terrorists could develop biological weapons, or potentially create new or novel pathogens. Outlets report the remarks as part of a broader assessment of evolving state and non-state threats.
Different reports emphasize different details: some focus on the specific escalation by Iran and Russia, others on the wider threat landscape and the implications of AI for biological risks. The Financial Times also notes broader trend data, including that state threats have risen over the past decade.
