British Intelligence Director "Russ, plan to wreak havoc in the UK..."Iranian conspiracy also caught"

Russian intelligence officials are operating to wreak havoc on British streets, and a number of Iranian-backed conspiracies have been caught, the British intelligence chief says.Director of domestic intelligence at

Ken McCallum, MI5 (MIFive), said on Tuesday local time that spying in other countries against Britain had surged 48% in the past year and that security threats were more complicated than ever.

In particular, he said, "The Russian General Reconnaissance Service continues its mission to wreak havoc on the streets of Britain," adding, "They are engaged in more dangerous activities such as arson and destruction plants."

McAllum also said that more than 750 Russian diplomats have been expelled from Europe since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and that "the majority of them were spies."

As for Iran, it said authorities have responded to 20 conspiracy cases that threatened the lives of British citizens or British residents with Iranian support since 2022.

Since March 2017, MI5 and police have blocked 43 last-stage attack plots for numerous lives, some of which were intended to use firearms and explosives, McCallum said.