Iran is attempting to "expand a hybrid campaign" to attack Britain, including Jewish communities in Manchester, the boss of MI5 said today (October 13). Sir Ken McCallum, the director general of the spy agency, outlined how the nation was struggling to combat states such as Iran and Russia amid "a new era of national security" comparable with how the world changed following the 9/11 terror attacks.
The spy boss also revealed his concern that terrorists were exploiting AI to improve reconnaissance, launch drone attacks and even create biological weapons.
Iran's 'subcontracted' violence
In his annual threat assessment speech at MI5's headquarters in London, Sir Ken told the media that while Russia remains "aggressor number one", Iran was "the other state keen on subcontracting its UK violence".
He said: "I've been calling this out since 2022. Today we continue to see familiar Iranian intent - using criminal proxies to intimidate oppositionists, Iranian media organisations and Israeli sites."
"But 2026 has also seen the Iranians, like the Russians attempting to expand their hybrid campaign. Over the last 12 months, our Iranian-linked operations have led to more than 50 arrests in the UK."
Threat to Jewish communities
"Sadly much of the aggression has been aimed at British Jewish communities with whom I want to express solidarity. Recently two Iranian nationals were charged with terrorism offences following an alleged plot targeting the Jewish community in Manchester."
"The spring saw a wave of arson and sabotage incidents targeting Jewish communities in the UK and other European countries. These sickening acts, including against ambulances, synagogues and businesses were claimed by a group calling itself the Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right. Behind this front sat members of IRGC. Both entities are now designated under the National Security Act giving us increased powers to disrupt and prosecute."
"What I can say is that those who would seek to cause mayhem on British streets - whether hired thugs or their paymasters overseas - will meet an unflinching response."
AI and evolving threats
He pointed to different types of terrorism "whether Islamist, extreme right wing, extreme left wing, Northern Ireland-related". He added: "There's a mix of things going on here. Determined efforts have degraded the efforts of Islamic State but Al Qaeda and Islamic State continue to direct and inspire attacks. MI5 is still having to respond to attempts to carry out mass casualty attacks in the UK."
Three Islamist extremists were convicted in February for planning to use automatic weapons against the Jewish community in Manchester.
MI5 was now devoting more time to "state threats" than it was during the Cold War, said Sir Ken. He added that AI is "supercharging the cybersecurity contest", and being used to "produce propaganda and radicalising material" as well as potentially to manufacture biological weapons.
"One risk, this is not the only manifestation, is AI could enable dangerous knowledge to get into the hands of people who you would rather don't have that knowledge," he said. Describing AI, he said humans had never faced a foe which was "smarter than we are".
Manchester plot charges
Last week two Iranians appeared in court charged over an alleged plot to attack members of the Jewish community in Salford. Rahman Salehi, 34, of Salford; and Salam Ahmadyan, 36, of Liverpool, are accused of "preparing to commit an act of terrorism or assisting another to commit an act of terrorism" on the eve of Yom Kippur - the holiest day of the Jewish calendar - last month.
The pair were arrested on Newton Street, in Manchester's Northern Quarter, on September 20, as thousands of British Jews prepared to celebrate the annual occasion. Prosecutors say they carried out "hostile reconnaissance on Manchester's Jewish community, identifying potential targets such as the Jewish Museum and Heaton Park Synagogue".
The Crown alleges they planned to use a "homemade explosive device". On Saturday (October 3), Westminster Magistrates' Court heard Salehi and Ahmadyan were in contact with an overseas third-party, believed to be in Iran, in relation to the alleged plot. They are accused of acquiring a document entitled "Steps for Making [a] Powder Chlorine and Car Brake Oil/Fluid Bomb", as well as "video material containing instructions on how to manufacture or assemble an improvised explosive device" and "liquids, components and equipment" required in order to manufacture or assemble it.
