Britain is facing a more complex national security threat than it did after the September 11 attacks, MI5 director general Sir Ken McCallum has warned, pointing to the combined dangers of Islamist extremism and hostile states.
Writing to mark the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, McCallum said the threat facing Britain in 2026 was “markedly different” from that of 2001. While the risk of mass-casualty terrorism remains, he said it now exists alongside growing threats from countries with the capability to conduct espionage, sabotage and cyber operations.
Russia and China add to security threats
McCallum said Russia was waging a hybrid campaign against Western countries through state-sponsored sabotage, espionage and assassinations. China, meanwhile, has become increasingly assertive in competition over strategic resources and trade routes.
He also warned that Britain must prepare for covert interference in democratic institutions and cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure, including power networks.
Recent cyber incidents have highlighted the vulnerability of British infrastructure, with attacks previously disrupting NHS systems, schools and industrial facilities.
McCallum argued that the growing role of privately owned infrastructure means the government and businesses must work more closely together to respond to national security threats.
“We cannot wait for the next shock to discover who owns the vulnerability, who has the authority to act, or who was supposed to pick up the phone,” he said.
Call for greater defence preparedness
The MI5 chief called security a “shared national endeavour” and urged the government to avoid complacency.
His warning comes as Prime Minister Andy Burnham faces pressure over defence spending. The government has resisted calls to reduce welfare spending to finance a faster increase in the military budget, while Labour has yet to commit to spending 3 per cent of GDP on defence by the end of the decade.
Britain has instead pledged to reach a longer-term NATO target of 3.5 per cent of GDP on core defence spending by 2035.
McCallum said the victims of the 9/11 attacks should be remembered through greater preparation and resilience rather than complacency.
A changing threat landscape
The September 11 attacks were carried out by 19 Al-Qaeda terrorists who hijacked four passenger aircraft. Two planes were flown into the World Trade Center in New York and another struck the Pentagon. The fourth crashed into a field in Pennsylvania after passengers attempted to regain control of the aircraft.
The attacks killed 2,977 people from 90 countries.
A quarter of a century later, McCallum argues that Britain must prepare for a broader range of threats, from terrorism to state-sponsored attacks and cyber warfare.
“We must resist the temptation to admire the defences we built yesterday and instead build the ones we will need tomorrow,” he said.
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