Britain's MI5 warned that threats from hostile foreign powers such as Russia and Iran are surging. An assessment said national security responses are on alert as cyberattacks and sabotage are compounded by the potential misuse of AI.

On Oct. 14, Japanese outlet ITmedia reported that MI5 Director General Ken McCallum (켄 매컬럼) said in his annual security speech a day earlier that the workload from foreign state-related security cases has quadrupled over the past decade. He added that MI5 is now devoting more resources to counter foreign threats than during the Cold War.

McCallum pointed to Russia as the biggest threat. He said Russia is waging "hybrid warfare" by combining cyberattacks and sabotage at a level that avoids triggering Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, NATO's collective defence clause.

He cited examples including cyberattacks targeting energy infrastructure in Poland and an attempted cargo aircraft sabotage in Germany using a drone carrying explosives.

The threat from Iran is also expanding. MI5 said more than 50 people have been arrested in Britain over the past 12 months during investigations into Iran-linked cases. The range of targets is also expanding from Jewish communities and dissidents to military facilities.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham (앤디 버넘) said on Oct. 12 it is highly likely that a mock incident involving an attack on RAF Fairford was carried out under the direction of Iran's Revolutionary Guards. Iran is denying allegations of involvement.

McCallum also warned of the potential for terrorist groups to misuse AI. He said AI could be used not only for cyberattacks and propaganda activities but also to improve existing biological weapons or develop new biological threats.

MI5 launched the AI Threat Assessment Centre, AITAC, this year to respond. Britain plans to strengthen national-level capabilities to collect intelligence on and respond to cyber and physical attacks and new AI-based threats.