MI5 Chief Report on Increased Iranian Assassination Efforts in Britain

The head of Britain's domestic security agency, MI5, reported a "stunning" increase in assassination efforts by Iran and Russia on British soil. Ken McCallum, in his annual report presented on Tuesday, October 8, warned of threats from Tehran and Moscow, as well as growing concerns about the activities of the Islamic State (ISIS) and al-Qaeda. According to this security official, "hostile" countries are employing criminals to carry out their "dirty work." McCallum stated at the London Counter-Terrorism Operations Center that since January 2022, MI5 and the police have responded to 20 Iran-backed plots that posed "potentially deadly threats to British citizens and residents." He noted that following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody in September 2022, London has witnessed a series of plots from the Islamic Republic of Iran. The widespread protests by Iranians inside and outside Iran after Amini's death generated a significant wave of opposition against the regime. Reporters Without Borders called on Britain to better protect Iranian journalists, describing the threats against them as "unprecedented." The British Prime Minister's Office also stated on Monday, August 7, 2023, that the Iranian regime poses "a serious threat" to Britain and its allies and "a direct danger" to Iranian dissidents and dissenters residing in Britain. McCallum further emphasized that Iran, like Russia, employs drug traffickers and low-level fraudsters for its operations. He warned that if Israel were to retaliate against an Iranian missile attack, Iran could expand its targets in Britain. He stated that escalating conflicts in the Middle East increase the risk of "heightened or expanded Iranian aggression in Britain." McCallum noted the danger that conflicts between Israel and Iranian-backed militant groups, including the extremist group Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthis in Yemen, could lead to terrorist attacks in Britain. Hamas is recognized as a terrorist organization by the U.S., the European Union, and Britain. Previously, the British Home Secretary had identified the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as the biggest threat to national security, stating that the IRGC has increased its threats on British soil and employs criminal gangs to suppress dissent. In response, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman dismissed Ken McCallum's claims as "completely rejected" and condemned them. Ismail Baqai stated that Britain has made these allegations "without the slightest evidence" over the past two years. Baqai pointed out the frequent use of the term "potential" by British officials in describing accusations against Iran, characterizing the actions of British security agencies as part of a policy of "artificial enemy creation and distorting public opinion about the role of the government" in what he termed "the continuation of the genocide of Palestinians and warmongering" by Israel in the region. The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman also referred to London's hosting of certain Iranian groups and organizations that he labeled as "terrorist," stating that these groups systematically promote violence, terrorism, and hate under the guise of freedom of expression.