Scots MI5 boss: Mix of threats is ‘nasty’
Spymaster on our enemies of the state
BRITAIN’S top domestic spymaster has vowed state enemies and terror groups will not beat MI5 and added: “Let’s not make them 10ft tall.”
MI5’s director general Ken McCallum admitted the right-wing terror threat is rising, especially among young people. He added jihadis remains an issue and Russia and China are an increasing problem.
But he promised that with the public continuing to remain vigilant and help his undercover officers and surveillance teams, the UK will not lose.
The Glaswegian maths graduate said: “We face a nasty mix.
“Terrorism isn’t going away and state-backed hostile activity is on the rise. But let’s not make them 10t tall. Based on our experience, the UK has a mature national security system and MI5 is a capable player in a genuine team.
“Every day that team includes support and assistance from individual members of the public.”
It was one of the most open and revealing talks given by an MI5 boss in years and comes amid fears the UK is under massive pressure from Covid-19, terror and state threats.
PUFFIN PECK
McCallum, a career spy who worked in Northern Ireland for many years, took over as head of Britain’s home intelligence agency this year as its 18th director general.
He admitted that jihadis represent the biggest threat, plus Northern Ireland terror, while right-wing terror plots are on the rise.
In the past four years, out of 27 possible plots which were smashed, as many as eight came from right-wing elements within the UK.
He said in his first online press conference: “On rightwing extremists, that is a rise and that wouldn’t have been a true statement for the previous four years.
“We see quite a lot of growth of these threats, including in particular quite a few young people being attracted to this ideology.”