Key facts
- A new strategic shock, similar to the 9/11 attacks, may already be in preparation in unforeseen areas, according to MI5 Director General Ken McCallum.
- McCallum warned against preparing for past threats using outdated methods.
- A foiled plot to attack Manchester's Jewish community demonstrated the continued threat from groups like al-Qaeda.
- MI5 is also facing increased state-backed aggression, including cyberattacks.
- McCallum called for collaboration between governments, businesses, and academia to address vulnerabilities.
The head of Britain's MI5 spy agency, Ken McCallum, warned that a new strategic shock, comparable to the 9/11 attacks, could be in the making in areas not currently under surveillance. In an opinion piece published on Friday, marking 25 years since the al-Qaeda attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, McCallum emphasized the need for intelligence services to evolve and adapt to emerging threats.
McCallum stated that the next significant shock would, by its nature, differ from previous ones, and that agencies must avoid preparing to fight