MI5 Accuses Russia of Creating 'mayhem on the streets'
The head of Britain’s Security Service asserts that Moscow is employing proxies to instigate disorder in the UK due to London’s support for Ukraine. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Britain’s security chief has called for increased authority and funding to address “foreign threats.”
Ken McCallum, the head of the British Security Service, asserted that British support for Ukraine has made London a target for Moscow’s spies. In an annual address regarding the threats facing the UK, McCallum prioritized Russia just after terrorism, placing it ahead of Iran and China, while emphasizing the need for additional funding and cautioning against the perils of the internet.
“The UK’s leading role in supporting Ukraine means we loom large in the fevered imagination of [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s regime, and we should expect to see continued acts of aggression here at home,” McCallum stated on Tuesday. He also warned, “The GRU in particular is on a sustained mission to generate mayhem on British and European streets: we’ve seen arson, sabotage and more,” referring to the Russian military intelligence agency.
McCallum described this “concerted campaign” as necessitating “a strong and sustained response,” including the utilization of the new National Security Act “to its fullest extent.” He played a significant role in advocating for the 2023 law, which expanded the powers of Britain’s security and intelligence agencies to counteract alleged “malign activity undertaken by foreign actors” such as espionage and sabotage.
MI5 is the unofficial name for Britain’s Security Service, while MI6 refers to the external Secret Intelligence Service, both of which evolved from the Secret Service Bureau established in 1909.
In his address, McCallum reiterated concerns about threats from “autocratic regimes” that target “our democracy, journalists and defenders of human rights,” as well as sensitive government information. He noted that the mass expulsion of Russian diplomats beginning in 2022 was unprecedented and “put a big dent in the Russian intelligence services’ ability to cause damage in the West,” although Moscow reportedly responded by recruiting online proxies.
McCallum stressed the necessity for “the ability to track the online activity of those who mean us harm,” calling it “utterly crucial.” He remarked, “Privacy and exceptional lawful access can coexist if absolutist positions are avoided,” warning that the alternative could lead to “allowing child abusers and terrorists to operate at scale, without fear of consequences.”
Earlier this year, former British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace claimed that Russia was responsible for numerous “disinformation campaigns, the enemies in this country using cyber to divide us, to rob from us, to spy on us, and to create frictions in our society.” His comments followed the disruption of an online scamming operation targeting the elderly, which had no ties to Russia.
Anna Muller contributed to this report for TROIB News
Ken McCallum, the head of the British Security Service, asserted that British support for Ukraine has made London a target for Moscow’s spies. In an annual address regarding the threats facing the UK, McCallum prioritized Russia just after terrorism, placing it ahead of Iran and China, while emphasizing the need for additional funding and cautioning against the perils of the internet.
“The UK’s leading role in supporting Ukraine means we loom large in the fevered imagination of [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s regime, and we should expect to see continued acts of aggression here at home,” McCallum stated on Tuesday. He also warned, “The GRU in particular is on a sustained mission to generate mayhem on British and European streets: we’ve seen arson, sabotage and more,” referring to the Russian military intelligence agency.
McCallum described this “concerted campaign” as necessitating “a strong and sustained response,” including the utilization of the new National Security Act “to its fullest extent.” He played a significant role in advocating for the 2023 law, which expanded the powers of Britain’s security and intelligence agencies to counteract alleged “malign activity undertaken by foreign actors” such as espionage and sabotage.
MI5 is the unofficial name for Britain’s Security Service, while MI6 refers to the external Secret Intelligence Service, both of which evolved from the Secret Service Bureau established in 1909.
In his address, McCallum reiterated concerns about threats from “autocratic regimes” that target “our democracy, journalists and defenders of human rights,” as well as sensitive government information. He noted that the mass expulsion of Russian diplomats beginning in 2022 was unprecedented and “put a big dent in the Russian intelligence services’ ability to cause damage in the West,” although Moscow reportedly responded by recruiting online proxies.
McCallum stressed the necessity for “the ability to track the online activity of those who mean us harm,” calling it “utterly crucial.” He remarked, “Privacy and exceptional lawful access can coexist if absolutist positions are avoided,” warning that the alternative could lead to “allowing child abusers and terrorists to operate at scale, without fear of consequences.”
Earlier this year, former British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace claimed that Russia was responsible for numerous “disinformation campaigns, the enemies in this country using cyber to divide us, to rob from us, to spy on us, and to create frictions in our society.” His comments followed the disruption of an online scamming operation targeting the elderly, which had no ties to Russia.
Anna Muller contributed to this report for TROIB News
