England - MI5: More resources against state threats than in the Cold War

The number of cases handled by MI5 relating to state-sponsored threats has quadrupled in the last decade, he explained. British authorities repeatedly report incidents, some of them violent, behind which masterminds on behalf of states such as Iran or Russia are suspected. These include espionage, sabotage and violent attacks such as arson attacks.

An incident recently caused a stir at the British military base RAF Fairford, which is used by the US Air Force and which, according to Prime Minister Andy Burnham, is very likely to be Iran. At the end of September, five men were initially arrested near the military base, and later two more suspects. All seven have now been released under conditions. You are suspected of preparing a terrorist act.

Incidents like this are “not an isolated incident,” McCallum said, according to the PA news agency. Tehran is increasingly targeting tougher targets such as military facilities. “Those who seek to wreak havoc on British streets – be they hired criminals here or their sponsors abroad – will face an unyielding response,” he warned.

However, the Russian state remains the “number one aggressor” and continues to take massive action against Great Britain and its allies. One has to take a closer look: It is no coincidence that Moscow wants to destabilize European states "while its military progress in Ukraine is minimal and associated with terribly high costs."