Blaise Metreweli, the first female head of MI6, warns that the UK faces a pervasive threat from Russia and other hostile actors, emphasizing the importance of technological mastery and human agency in national security amidst a complex, tech-mediated threat landscape.
MI5 revealed that UK spies have recently disrupted a new threat from China, highlighting ongoing cyber threats and espionage activities, despite a dropped case against two individuals accused of gathering intelligence on UK-China relations. The agency emphasizes the persistent danger posed by Chinese state actors and ongoing cyber threats to government networks.
Two people were killed and several injured in a stabbing and vehicle ramming attack outside a Manchester synagogue on Yom Kippur, with the suspected attacker shot by police and believed to be dead; the incident has heightened fears of antisemitism amid ongoing tensions over the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Britain is preparing its largest security operation since the 2023 coronation for President Trump's upcoming visit, involving extensive measures like drones, snipers, and armed police, heightened by recent threats and incidents, to ensure safety during his three-day stay.
A UK parliamentary report warns of a rising and unpredictable threat from Iran, highlighting increased physical threats against opponents and UK interests, concerns over Iran's nuclear capabilities, and calls for enhanced long-term security measures, including potential sanctions and proscription of Iran's IRGC. The report emphasizes the need for a better-resourced response to Iran's diverse threats, amidst ongoing tensions and regional conflicts.
A UK High Court criticized MI5 for misleading courts about an informant involved in domestic abuse cases, raising concerns over transparency and oversight of the agency, which has historically maintained secrecy about its operations.
The UK government is planning to ban Palestine Action as a terrorist organization following their break-in at RAF Brize Norton, where activists spray-painted military planes, prompting a security review and ongoing investigations.
Prince Harry's lawyer is challenging the UK government's decision to strip him of his security detail, arguing that it was unfair and failed to follow proper risk analysis. Harry claims his safety is at risk due to hostility on social media and in the press. The government argues that Harry is no longer a working royal and therefore not entitled to regular security review. The committee responsible for the decision included royal family staff, including someone with whom Harry had tensions. Harry's spokesperson stated that his US security team does not have jurisdiction or access to intelligence in the UK.
Former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss has urged Chancellor Rishi Sunak to classify China as a "threat" to UK security during her visit to Taiwan. Truss, who is the first former UK Prime Minister to visit Taiwan since Margaret Thatcher, drew comparisons between the tensions between China and Taiwan and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. She also called for the development of "an economic Nato" to support freedom and proper free enterprise. The Chinese Embassy called Truss's visit "a dangerous political stunt".