UK Confronts Surge of Threats in Sabotage and Murder by Hostile States

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Britain is grappling with a dramatic surge in threats from hostile states, including assassination plots, sabotage, and espionage, according to Matt Jukes, the UK’s counter-terrorism chief. In a statement highlighting the growing danger, Jukes revealed that such investigations now account for 20 percent of his officers’ workload, a significant increase from just five percent five years ago. “I’m talking really here about spies, saboteurs, assassins, and war criminals,” Jukes explained. “That sounds quite Le Carré and potentially remote to a lot of people’s lives in the country.”

 

 

The rising threats are not abstract concerns but are materializing in real cases. Jukes provided chilling examples: “We’ve got individual charges in relation to sabotage in the UK linked to the supply chain into Ukraine. We’ve got individuals charged in relation to spying. Iranian dissident voices and diaspora communities have been clearly at risk of kidnapping or assassination.” He pointed out that British authorities, in collaboration with MI5, have investigated over 15 such cases, even noting that “an Iranian journalist was stabbed in the UK.”

 

This surge in hostile state activities coincides with warnings from Ken McCallum, the head of MI5. McCallum recently reported that Russia’s intelligence services have been conducting a campaign of “sustained mayhem” across Britain and Europe. He described how Russian GRU agents have engaged in arson, sabotage, and other reckless acts in retaliation for Britain’s support of Ukraine.

 

Russia is not the only threat. Since 2022, MI5 has thwarted 20 plots backed by Iran, which has been targeting journalists and dissidents. McCallum acknowledged that while Islamist extremism remains the primary concern, with extreme Right-wing terrorism following closely, the growing activities of states like Iran, Russia, and China are taking an increasing share of MI5's focus.

 

Jukes described this trio of states as the most significant threats. Iran's aggression has been aimed particularly at journalists and dissidents. Russia, in turn, has mounted sabotage campaigns targeting supply routes and dissidents. Meanwhile, China has concentrated its efforts on espionage and attempts at influence within the UK. These states, he noted, are also heavily involved in spreading disinformation. “There are states who are interested in driving the disinformation, because it drives discord, and we also see real potential harms here to communities.”

 

One particularly troubling aspect of these activities is the intimidation of individuals living in the UK. “There are people who’ve got relatives who are overseas being intimidated here because of threats to their family at home. So it’s a great part of our work. It’s a concerning part of our work,” Jukes said. He emphasized that the counter-terrorism staff works closely with communities to ensure they feel empowered to report incidents when they occur.

 

Online disinformation has also become a growing concern. Jukes warned of “bot factories” that fuel disinformation campaigns. Particularly worrying are sites that appear legitimate but secretly operate on behalf of hostile states. “This is much more sinister and difficult to detect,” he added.

 

McCallum echoed Jukes' concerns, noting that the UK’s prominent role in supporting Ukraine has made it a prime target for Russian aggression. “We loom large in the fevered imagination of Putin’s regime,” he said, cautioning that more attacks on British soil are likely in the future.

 

Since 2017, MI5 has thwarted 43 late-stage plots involving firearms and explosives aimed at committing mass murder in the UK. The country's current terror threat level remains substantial, meaning that an attack is likely.

 

Based on a report from the Daily Telegraph 2024-10-18