Extremists holding anti-immigration opinions are becoming increasingly likely to consider carrying out terrorist attacks against immigration centres and asylum hotels in the UK, according to Ken McCallum, the head of MI5. He stated that this shift from radicalised right-wing sentiment to violence is the "most marked trend" in the spy agency’s caseload over the past year, contributing to a rise in the overall UK terror threat level.
In an annual threat update, Mr McCallum noted an increase in cases where "extremist versions of anti-immigration and anti-Muslim grievance are tipping into terrorist intent," including plans for attacks on migrants and Muslims. He highlighted that young people are particularly susceptible to extreme right-wing terrorism, revealing that MI5 was investigating a radicalised 13-year-old in the UK this year. A 16-year-old from Inverclyde received a 10-year prison sentence a year ago after pleading guilty to planning mass murder by firebombing a Muslim centre.
The MI5 director general also addressed other threats, stating that Russia remains "aggressor number one" with ongoing assassination plots, explosive threats, and cyber-attacks. He mentioned Iran's efforts to expand hostile activities in the UK, including ambitions to target military sites like RAF Fairford, and increased aggression against British Jewish communities. Mr McCallum also expressed focus on the risk of hostile states or terrorists using AI to generate new bioweapons, announcing a new AI threat assessment centre.