UK Faces Renewed Threat from ISIS and al Qaeda, Warns MI5 Chief
MI5 Director General Ken McCallum warns of a “resurgent” threat from ISIS and al Qaeda, highlighting the evolving landscape of terrorism in the UK.
The head of Britain’s domestic security service, MI5, has issued a stark warning about the rising threat posed by ISIS and al Qaeda, describing both terrorist groups as “resurgent” and actively targeting the United Kingdom once again. Speaking in a rare public address on Tuesday, MI5 Director General Ken McCallum emphasized the growing danger posed by overseas terrorist networks and the increasing involvement of minors in terrorism-related activities.
Terror Threat from Overseas Terror Groups on the Rise
McCallum revealed that over a third of MI5’s recent high-priority investigations are linked to overseas terrorist organizations, with ISIS ramping up its efforts to “export terrorism” to Europe. He noted that the global terrorism landscape has shifted significantly, with ISIS evolving from a centralized caliphate to a decentralized network with cells operating in various regions including Africa, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia.
The MI5 chief also highlighted the alarming trend of youth involvement in terrorism, stating that more than one in eight individuals being investigated by the agency for terrorism-related activities are minors—a three-fold increase since 2021. He attributed this rise to the pervasive influence of the internet in radicalizing young individuals.
Potential Impact of Global Conflicts on UK Security
McCallum’s warning comes amid rising concerns over state-sponsored sabotage and the destabilizing impact of global conflicts such as the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. The MI5 chief said his agency is acutely aware of the risk that escalating violence in the Middle East could potentially trigger terrorist actions in the UK. While there has been an increase in public disorder and hate crimes related to these conflicts, McCallum stressed that it has not yet translated into terrorist activities on British soil.
Since March 2017, MI5 has thwarted 43 late-stage terror plots, many of which were in their final stages of planning mass attacks. The majority of the agency’s efforts have focused on combating Islamist extremism, which accounts for approximately 75% of their work, with far-right extremism making up the remaining 25%.
Renewed Focus on ISIS and al Qaeda
Despite the collapse of its self-proclaimed caliphate in Iraq and Syria five years ago, ISIS has re-emerged as a global terror network, and is once again in MI5’s crosshairs. McCallum said the group has resumed efforts to coordinate and export terrorism beyond the Middle East. Similarly, al Qaeda is also attempting to capitalize on the ongoing conflicts in the region by calling for violent actions.
The MI5 chief’s address serves as a reminder of the evolving and persistent nature of the global terrorism threat, and the need for continued vigilance to safeguard the UK from potential attacks.
