World · Europe · 2 hrs ago
MI5 chief says Iran is seeking to target UK military sites
MI5 chief Ken McCallum says Iran is seeking to target military sites in the UK.
He said this marks a shift beyond attacks on Iranian dissidents and Jewish sites, which Britain says have been targeted by Iranian proxies.
The warning comes as police investigate a suspected plot at RAF Fairford, a US-run base in western England used by US bombers during the war with Iran.
Police found gasoline in three vans near the base, but no explosives, and residents were evacuated during the response.
Seven men have been arrested and released on bail while the investigation continues.
Iran denies involvement, while British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the plot was almost certainly directed by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.
The suspected plot led the US to pull its bombers from Fairford, and McCallum says similar threats are not unique.
He also warned that state-backed threats to Britain have grown, while MI5 is assessing how artificial intelligence could increase security risks.
MI5 chief Ken McCallum warned that Iran is seeking to target military sites in the UK, describing the suspected plot at RAF Fairford as “not unique.”
He said Iran’s overseas attack ambitions have shifted towards harder targets, while Russia and Iran are expanding hybrid warfare campaigns against Britain.
British authorities have linked Iran to the suspected Fairford plot; Iran has denied involvement.
Seven men were arrested in connection with the suspected plot and released on bail under investigation.
McCallum also warned that artificial intelligence could increase bioweapon risks and said MI5 had set up an AI Threat Assessment Center.
- Who
- MI5 chief Ken McCallum warned about the threats. British authorities have linked Iran to the suspected plot.
- What
- McCallum said Iran is seeking to target military sites in the UK and that the suspected RAF Fairford plot was not unique.
- When
- Tuesday, October 13, 2026. The suspected plot at RAF Fairford was in September.
- Where
- The UK, including RAF Fairford in western England.
- Why
- McCallum said Iran’s ambitions have shifted towards harder targets, including military sites.
British authorities
Iran
Attribution of the Fairford plot
British authorities
British authorities have linked Tehran to the incident, and Prime Minister Andy Burnham said it was almost certainly directed by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.
Iran
Iran has denied involvement.
Military bases as targets
British authorities
British authorities view the suspected Fairford incident as a plot against a military base.
Iran
Iran has previously said it considers any base used to attack its territory a legitimate target.
Residents near RAF Fairford were evacuated as police and army bomb-disposal experts responded to the area.
Police said they found gasoline in three vans at the site, but no explosives.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the apparent plot was almost certainly directed by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.
Ken McCallum warned that Iran’s efforts to target military sites were a major shift and said the Fairford incident was not unique.
- MI5 chief
- Ken McCallum
- Suspected target
- RAF Fairford, a US-run military air base in western England
- Arrests
- Seven men arrested and released on bail under investigation
- Material found
- Gasoline in three vans; no explosives
- State threats
- MI5’s work countering state threats has quadrupled in the past decade
- New center
- MI5 established an AI Threat Assessment Center
What people are saying
The incident at RAF Fairford “is not unique. There have been other examples, not just in the U.K. but around the world,
Over the last 12 months, our Iran-linked operations have led to more than 50 arrests in the UK
One risk is that AI could enable dangerous knowledge to get into the hands of people we would all rather didn’t have that knowledge
The UK is a close partner, and we stand firmly with them.
Sources
MI5 chief says Iran is targeting military bases in UK, airbase plot ‘not unique’
UK intelligence chief warns of 'major shift' after Iran attacks military bases
MI5 chief warns Iran is targeting military sites in UK as hostile state threats surge
Iran targeting military sites, suspected plot at U.S.-run base ‘not unique,’ MI5 chief says
MI5 chief says Iran is targeting military sites and RAF Fairford was 'not unique'
Iran and Russia are stepping up hybrid campaigns in Britain, UK spy chief says
MI5 Chief Warns of Growing Iranian and Russian Threats to U.K.
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