ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

MI5 Chief Ken McCallum Warns Iran Is Targeting UK Military Sites

other · 2026-10-13

Ken McCallum, the head of MI5, the UK's domestic security service, cautioned that Tehran aims to escalate its assaults in Britain, extending beyond its usual focus on Iranians opposing the Islamic regime. He noted that military installations in the UK are now being targeted as threats from hostile states increase. In response to the rising risks of hybrid warfare, the security agency has set up a dedicated assessment center. McCallum highlighted incidents of arson and sabotage at Jewish locations, attributed to Iranian proxies, indicating a widening scope of Iranian activities in the UK and the escalating hybrid warfare threats the nation faces.

Key facts

  • MI5 chief Ken McCallum warned that Iran is targeting military sites in the UK
  • McCallum said Tehran seeks to intensify attacks in Britain beyond traditional targets of Iranians opposed to the country's Islamic authorities
  • The security agency established a specialised assessment centre
  • The centre was set up after the intelligence head outlined rising hybrid warfare risks
  • Hostile state threats are surging, according to the MI5 chief
  • Attacks have included arson and sabotage on Jewish sites
  • Britain says the attacks on Jewish sites were carried out by Iranian proxies
  • McCallum leads the UK's domestic security service

Entities

Artists

  • Ken McCallum

Institutions

  • MI5

Locations

  • United Kingdom
  • Britain
  • Iran
  • Tehran

Sources