The Director General of the UK‘s Security Service (MI5) Ken McCallum accused on Russia‘s GRU military intelligence service is actively attempting to instigate “mayhem” across Britain and Europe.
In a comprehensive speech addressing the current threat landscape, McCallum on Tuesday said that stressed upon a growing concern regarding resurgent al Qaeda and Islamic State terrorism as his primary focus.
McCallum said that investigations into state threats have surged by 48% over the past year, as Russia and Iran have increasingly relied on criminals, drug traffickers, and proxies to conduct their operations. He noted, “It will be clear to you that MI5 has one hell of a job on its hands.” Since March 2017, MI5 and British police have disrupted 43 late-stage plots, with some nearing execution and aimed at mass murder.
He expressed particular concern about the escalating threat from al Qaeda, which seeks to exploit ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, alongside Islamic State’s recent efforts to export terrorism, including a notable attack on a Moscow concert hall in March. While such events in the Middle East have not yet translated into significant violence within the UK, McCallum pointed to a stabbing incident in northern England as a troubling example, stating it was in “revenge for Israeli actions in Gaza.”
Notably, 13% of those under investigation for terrorism-related activities are under 18, marking a threefold increase over the past three years. McCallum attributed this trend to the internet’s pervasive influence, allowing young people easy access to extremist propaganda. He said, “Extreme right-wing terrorism in particular skews heavily towards young people, driven by propaganda that shows a canny understanding of online culture.”
Much of McCallum’s address focused on the threats posed by Russia and Iran. He noted that over 750 Russian diplomats have been expelled from Europe since the onset of the Ukraine conflict, leading to an increased reliance by Russian state actors on proxies to achieve their objectives.

He said, “The GRU in particular is on a sustained mission to generate Mayhem on British and European streets we’ve seen arson sabotage and more dangerous actions conducted with increasing recklessness and having precisely the opposite effect of what the Russian State intends in driving increased operation operational coordination with Partners across Europe and Beyond.”
In relation to Iran, McCallum said that MI5 has responded to 20 Iranian-backed plots since January 2022, which have posed lethal threats to UK citizens.
He warned that anyone considering taking money from Russia or Iran to carry out illicit activities would find it a “choice you’ll regret.”