MI5 chief issues urgent warning over terror threat linked to UK’s migrant crisis.TA
Sir Ken McCallum admitted intelligence officers have seen an increase in “anti-immigration and anti-Muslim” grievances “tipping into terrorist intent”.
MI5 has warned of the increased extreme right wing threat (Image: Getty)
Britain’s migrant crisis is making a terror attack more likely, the head of MI5 has warned. Sir Ken McCallum admitted intelligence officers have seen an increase in “anti-immigration and anti-Muslim” grievances “tipping into terrorist intent”.
He said MI5 has foiled plots to attack mosques and “venues connected to immigration and asylum”. Sir Ken’s intervention will prompt renewed focus on the disastrous impact of the failure to control Britain’s borders.
The Security Service chief said: “For the first time in almost five years, JTAC recently returned the UK terrorism threat level to SEVERE, meaning an attack is highly likely.
Get the latest politics news – straight from our team in Westminster and more
Invalid email
You agree you are 18 or over. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. You can unsubscribe at any time. More Info.
“While the threat level change reflects the whole of the terrorist threat, the recent increase was driven in significant part by Extreme Right-Wing Terrorism.
“This is a complex landscape, with many subcultures.
“Over the last year, the most marked trend has been an increase in cases where extremists of anti-immigration and anti-Muslim grievance are tipping into terrorist intent; we’ve dealt, for example, with would-be terrorists aspiring to attack mosques and venues connected to immigration and asylum.”
MI5, Sir Ken said, is still foiling Islamist attempts “to carry out mass casualty attacks in the UK”.
More extremists are holding anti-immigrant views (Image: Getty)
He said: “Determined efforts have degraded the leadership of Islamic State, but Al-Qaeda and Islamic State continue to direct and inspire attacks.
“Three Islamist extremists were convicted in February for planning to use automatic weapons against the Jewish community in Manchester.”
But Britain’s top intelligence officer warned extreme right-wing terrorism” continues to “skew” young people radicalised by online propaganda.
He said: “A few months ago, MI5 was investigating a radicalised extreme right-wing 13-year-old here in the UK.
“Believe me, we wish we didn’t have to. But that investigation generated insight that enabled one of our international partners to prevent a lethal attack on their soil.”
He also mentioned the case of a 16-year-old from Inverclyde who was jailed for 10 years for plotting to attack an Islamic centre.
Official figures show that in 2025, 39 people aged 17 and under were arrested in connection with counter terrorism investigations, and 40 the previous year.
Former MI6 chief Sir Richard Moore on Monday warned migration is one of the issues Russia wants to exploit in an information war.
And Sir Ken warned Britain’s adversaries are trying to “manipulate how we feel”.
He said: “In the era we’re now in, the cohesion and confidence of our communities has become a national security front line.
“Those who mean us harm are trying – often with a helping hand from polarising algorithms – to divide our communities and turn us against one another.
“The sharpest form this takes is lethal violence. We were all horrified by the murder of Ann Widdecombe in July.
“Sadly, the case is part of a concerning trend of violence targeted at political figures, religious or community groups and more.”
Sir Ken added: “Authoritarian regimes also try to impose their will. They have forever sought to silence dissenting voices among their people, including in the UK.
“But these days they also invest in trying to distort and divide our society, weaponising whatever frictions they notice.”
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage on Monday warned Labour is letting terrorists, serious criminals and dangerous sex offenders cross the Channel in small boats.
Mr Farage vowed to regain control of the borders by shutting the asylum system for five years.
He said: “What is happening is a national security emergency. We are letting terrorists come into the country.
“We are letting serious criminals come into the country. We’re letting dangerous sex offenders into the country. And our primary purpose is to stop that from happening.
“We have got to be very, very careful about not letting any more of our enemies into the country.”
Horror at UK train station as masked youths ‘wield machetes’ on busy platform
Footage filmed from a train appears to show an incident involving three men on a platform at Worthing Station in West Sussex, with one brandishing a machete-style knife.
KNIFE FIGHT Terrifying moment machete-wielding youths brawl & swing blades at each other on UK train station platformTHIS is the terrifying moment machete-wielding youths brawl and swing blades at each other on a UK train station platform.The horror unfolded in front of passengers at Worthing Station, West Sussex, in scenes of chaos on Sunday evening.https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/40661380/machete-youths-brawl-swing-blades-uk-train-station/ (Image: Facebook)
Disturbing footage has emerged apparently capturing the moment knife-wielding youths launched an attack at a packed UK railway station. The violent confrontation unfolded at Worthing Station, West Sussex, on Sunday evening, October 11.
The video, recorded from inside a train carriage, shows the instant two men appeared to target a third individual.
This happened as one of the attackers wielded a machete-style blade. The men can be observed lunging and slashing at each other on the platform while passengers looked on from inside the carriage.
The clip shows one man fleeing from the other two as the train starts to depart. The full circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear and it is not known whether any of the men sustained injuries.
KNIFE FIGHT Terrifying moment machete-wielding youths brawl & swing blades at each other on UK train station platformTHIS is the terrifying moment machete-wielding youths brawl and swing blades at each other on a UK train station platform.The horror unfolded in front of passengers at Worthing Station, West Sussex, in scenes of chaos on Sunday evening.https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/40661380/machete-youths-brawl-swing-blades-uk-train-station/ (Image: Facebook)
Officers raced to the location at approximately 6.30pm, but the men had escaped before police arrived. The vicinity was searched and sealed off.
An investigation was launched. British Transport Police have appealed for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward.
“British Transport Police (BTP) were called to Worthing Station at around 6:30 pm yesterday evening (October 11) following reports of three males being involved in an altercation on a platform,” a spokesperson said.
Worthing Railway Station (Image: Google)
“They were all reported to be in possession of knives and had fled the station prior to police arrival.
“Officers conducted a thorough search of the area with Sussex Police colleagues, however no one was found.
“Enquiries are ongoing. Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information that could help officers and has yet to speak to police should text BTP on 61016, or call 0800 40 50 40, using the reference 543 of 11 October.
“Information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
