MI5 Warns of Rising Iran, Russia Threats and AI Bioweapon Risks

Britain’s domestic intelligence agency MI5 has warned that Iran is increasingly targeting military facilities in the UK, while Russia is intensifying hybrid warfare operations against Ukraine’s Western allies.

Speaking on Tuesday, MI5 Director General Ken McCallum said threats from hostile states have quadrupled over the past decade, forcing the agency to dedicate more resources to national security than during the Cold War.

McCallum highlighted growing Iranian efforts to attack high-security military installations, including suspected activity involving RAF Fairford, a British airbase used by US bombers during strikes against Iran.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Monday that Tehran was highly likely responsible for a suspected plot targeting the base. The incident triggered heightened security measures and prompted US President Donald Trump to withdraw aircraft from the facility.

Iran has denied involvement in the Fairford incident and other alleged operations in Britain.

Although McCallum declined to discuss the ongoing investigation, he confirmed that Iran-linked activities had resulted in more than 50 arrests over the past year.

He warned that Iranian operations were increasingly focused on more challenging targets, including military installations, although the capabilities of criminal networks and proxies operating in Britain remained limited.

Meanwhile, McCallum described Russia as Britain's leading state security threat, accusing Moscow of expanding cyberattacks, sabotage attempts and other hybrid warfare activities across Europe.

He cited an attempted drone attack involving a cargo aircraft at Germany’s Leipzig/Halle Airport and a cyberattack targeting Poland’s energy infrastructure.

Russia rejected the allegations, with its London embassy accusing Western governments of exaggerating security threats to justify increased military spending and surveillance powers.

Beyond geopolitical tensions, McCallum raised concerns about artificial intelligence becoming a powerful tool for terrorists and cybercriminals.

He warned that AI was accelerating competition between cybersecurity defenders and attackers while helping extremist groups improve surveillance and attack planning.

His greatest concern, however, involved the potential use of AI to develop biological weapons or create entirely new pathogens.

Although such capabilities have not yet materialized, McCallum stressed that intelligence agencies were closely monitoring the emerging danger.

The warnings underscore Britain's growing national security challenges as Iranian threats, Russian hybrid warfare and rapidly advancing AI technology reshape the global security landscape.