MI5 warns of expanding state threats, terrorism and AI misuse
Britain’s domestic intelligence chief says hostile-state activity, terrorism and AI-enabled risks are increasingly overlapping.
AI-generated symbolic illustration by MyNilgiris/OpenAI; illustrative only and not a photograph of the MI5 speech or an actual attack.
MI5 says Britain has entered a new era of national security as hostile-state activity, terrorism and the misuse of artificial intelligence increasingly overlap.
In his annual threat update on October 13, 2026, MI5 Director General Sir Ken McCallum described Russia as the United Kingdom’s leading state threat and said Iran was expanding operations toward harder targets, including military sites. Iran and Russia deny accusations of hostile activity.
McCallum said potential attackers have used AI to improve reconnaissance and attack methods, including work involving drones. He also warned that AI could make dangerous biological knowledge easier to obtain. MI5 has established an AI Threat Assessment Centre to study these risks.
- MI5 says its state-threat workload has quadrupled over the past decade.
- More than 50 Iran-related arrests were recorded in Britain during the past year, according to the assessment.
- Al Qaeda and Islamic State continue to inspire plots, while extreme-right cases involving young people are increasing.
Visible sources:
- MI5 — Director General’s annual threat update, October 13, 2026
- Reuters — summary of the MI5 assessment
- Associated Press — independent report on the address
Image: AI-generated symbolic illustration by MyNilgiris/OpenAI. It is illustrative and does not depict the MI5 speech or an actual attack.
