The head of the UK's MI5 domestic security agency, Ken McCallum, warned that Iran is expanding its hybrid attack strategies, targeting more challenging sites, including military installations. This statement follows UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham's assertion that a recent attempted plot at Fairford air base, which hosts US bombers, was likely coordinated from Tehran.
In his annual threat assessment, McCallum highlighted a significant shift in Iranian ambitions, indicating a focus on harder targets beyond the Iranian diaspora and including Iranian media organizations and Israeli interests in the UK. He noted that over the past year, more than 50 individuals have been arrested in operations linked to Iran within the UK.
The warning comes after the US removed several long-range bombers from Fairford air base last week, following an incident on September 27 where multiple arrests were made on suspicion of terrorism. Investigations into the incident are ongoing, with preliminary reports suggesting that no viable explosives were found, although accelerants were discovered in vehicles near the base.
McCallum stated that while Iran's capacity to execute complex attacks using explosive drones is limited, the threat remains significant. He emphasized the UK’s commitment to countering Iranian activities, stating that the government would utilize its full range of powers to target criminal networks associated with Iran and impose further sanctions on the Iranian regime and its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Burnham reiterated this stance, stating that the UK will not tolerate attacks on its soil and has summoned Iran's ambassador to convey this message. He named individuals linked to the IRGC who are being sanctioned for their involvement in hostile activities against the UK. The Fairford air base is noted for its strategic importance, being a rare European location for US heavy bombers capable of reaching Iran amid ongoing tensions in the Gulf.