British intelligence warns: Iran is expanding the circle of its targets towards military bases... and fears of unprecedented threats

London - Ofoq News - The head of the British Internal Security Agency (MI5), Ken McCallum, warned that Iran is seeking to expand its alleged operations to include military targets in Britain and other countries, in a shift that he described as an important development in the nature of the security threats facing the United Kingdom.

According to a report published by the Israeli website Ynet, McCallum said that the activities attributed to Tehran are no longer limited to targeting opponents of the Iranian regime, but rather, according to his warning, include seeking to target military installations as well, amid growing fears of sabotage and secret attacks.

The warnings came following an investigation into a suspected plot to target Fairford Air Force Base in western England, which is used by the US Air Force alongside British forces. On September 27, the authorities summoned security forces to the vicinity of the base, and dozens of residents were evacuated from their homes, while the police found quantities of gasoline inside three commercial vehicles, but no explosives were found, according to the report.

Seven men in their twenties were arrested in connection with the case, before being released on bail while the investigation continued. The report quoted the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, as saying that the plan was, in his words, “almost certainly” coordinated by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. On the other hand, Iran denied its involvement in the incident.

The report indicated that the base gained additional importance due to its use in American air operations against targets inside Iran, and that the incident raised security concerns that led to the removal of American bombers from the base, according to what was stated in the published material.

The head of MI5 described the current phase as a “new era of national security,” noting the increase in threats attributed to Russia, Iran and China, including espionage, sabotage, cyber attacks and covert operations. He added that the agency's workload related to threats emanating from foreign countries has increased fourfold over the past decade.

In another aspect of his warnings, McCallum pointed out the potential dangers of the use of artificial intelligence by terrorist groups, especially in developing attack capabilities, gathering information, and planning operations. He warned of the possibility of facilitating access to dangerous biological knowledge or helping to develop new pathogens that had not been previously seen.

The British agency announced the establishment of a specialized center to assess risks associated with artificial intelligence, with the aim of monitoring potential threats and preparing for them early.