The head of MI5 has revealed that the organisation has foiled 43 terror plots since the Manchester Arena bombing in 2017 as he warned that Russia is in a mission to cause mayhem on the streets
Twenty Iranian backed plots have been prevented since January 2022 he revealed amid his warning that the greatest terrorism concern still revolves around Islamic State and Al Queda
In a briefing at MI5’s counter-terrorism operations centre in London, Mr Ken McCallum also expressed concern over the number of young people being drawn into online extremism.
He said about 13% of those investigated for involvement in terrorism were under 18 – which was a threefold increase in the last three years.
He accused Russia and Iran of hiring criminals to carry out plots in UK as he outlines ‘most complex set of threats he’s ever known
MI5 has “one hell of a job on its hands” countering a mix of state-based hybrid operations plus Islamist terror groups seeking to capitalise on the Middle East conflict he said adding that the number of MI5 investigations focused on foreign state-based threats in the UK has risen by 48% in the last year
He also issued a warning
“If you take money from Iran, Russia or any other state to carry out illegal acts in the UK, you will bring the full weight of the national security apparatus down on you. It’s a choice you’ll regret”
