MI5 Director General Sir Ken McCallum has warned of a "growing threat" from Iran and Russia, citing "thuggish actions" including arson, sabotage, and physical violence targeting the UK. Speaking after the Labour government's National Security (State Threats) Act received Royal Assent, Sir Ken welcomed new powers that will allow the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to be treated like a terrorist organization.
New Powers to Proscribe State Threats
The IRGC is expected to be among as many as 10 groups proscribed as a "state-based threat" over the next year. The legislation grants counter-terrorism police and MI5 the authority to arrest operatives, freeze assets, enable the Home Secretary to cancel visas of foreign nationals linked to proscribed groups, and force social media companies to remove propaganda.
Sir Ken stated: "The UK is under threat from state actors intent on doing us harm, including by using thuggish tactics like arson, sabotage and physical violence to target people and businesses and disrupt our way of life." He added that the new legislation builds on the National Security Act 2023, which is already heavily used, and introduces measures to tackle the growing threat from proxy organisations used by states to deniably target the UK.
Rise in Hostile State Activity
Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, head of counter-terrorism policing, previously told the Daily Express that Iranian spy plots constitute the majority of counter-terrorism probes into hostile state activity. The Home Office has confirmed that petty criminals will be arrested if they receive payment from a designated organisation. Penalties for working with foreign intelligence agencies could include up to 14 years in prison, harsher than for similar acts without state direction.
The warning follows a spate of arson attacks, kidnap conspiracies, and assassination attempts linked to the IRGC and Russian intelligence services. Iran is feared to have ordered firebomb attacks on synagogues, Jewish community ambulances, and targeted journalists. Security chiefs believe enemy intelligence agencies are offering criminals money to provide "plausible" deniability.
Zealots and Supporters Targeted
Zealots who express support for designated groups will be subject to arrest, similar to those who support ISIS or Al Qaeda. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: "Keeping our country and communities safe is the first duty of any government. That’s why we’ve taken decisive action to deal with the growing threat posed by aggressive foreign states." She emphasised that the Act gives police and intelligence agencies the tools to pursue foreign powers and their proxies, better protecting communities, institutions, and democratic values.
Mr Taylor also noted a broader trend of polarisation: "We are seeing, not just within counter-terrorism policing, but policing more broadly, far more polarised communities. Those voices that would have once been at the extremes are being normalised. They're becoming more empowered, more vocal, and that is influencing more people." This creates a more permissive environment where extreme views and behaviours become acceptable, leading to incidents that would not have occurred a decade ago.
