MI5 Chief Warns of AI Bioweapons and Iranian Plots

MI5 Director General Ken McCallum warned that state threats and terrorism are now of equal scale, with the agency devoting more resources to countering state actors than during the Cold War. During an annual threat update at Thames House, McCallum identified Russia as the primary aggressor and noted that Iran is intensifying hostile activities in the United Kingdom, shifting focus toward Jewish communities and harder targets like military sites.

These warnings follow a September 27 plot targeting RAF Fairford, a U.S.-run airbase used for strikes against Iran. Police discovered gasoline in three vans during the incident, leading President Donald Trump to withdraw bombers from the base. Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated the plot was almost certainly directed by Iran's Revolutionary Guard, though Iran denied involvement and claimed bases used to attack its territory are legitimate targets.

Domestically, McCallum highlighted a marked trend of right-wing extremists targeting asylum hotels and immigration centers, noting a particular vulnerability among youth. He cited the investigation of a 13-year-old and the sentencing of a 16-year-old for a planned firebombing in Greenock.

To address emerging technological risks, MI5 is establishing an AI Threat Assessment Centre in collaboration with the National Crime Agency and the National Cyber Security Centre. McCallum warned that AI is supercharging cybersecurity threats and could enable terrorists to generate novel pathogens or access bioweapons if guardrails fail. Additionally, MI5 will support a security review for political figures initiated by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood.