MI5 chief: Islamic Republic has targeted British military bases

Ken McCallum, head of MI5, Britain's domestic security service, said on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, that the Islamic Republic is trying to target military bases on British soil. According to him, the suspected plot against Fairford air base, which is used by American forces, in September was not a one-off.

McCallum described the Islamic Republic's willingness to attack "harder" targets such as military installations as one of this year's big changes, and said there had been other such cases, not only in Britain but elsewhere in the world. He also spoke of an escalation of "hybrid" campaigns by the Islamic Republic and Russia in Britain.

Britain's Jewish community and transnational repression

The MI5 chief said a large part of the Islamic Republic's hostile activity in Britain has targeted the country's Jewish community, and expressed solidarity with them. British officials had earlier attributed arson attacks and sabotage against Jewish sites and an independent Persian-language media outlet to the Islamic Republic's proxy groups. According to reports, operations linked to the Islamic Republic have led to more than 50 arrests in Britain over the past twelve months.

Background to the Fairford base case

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham had earlier said the IRGC was most likely behind the Fairford affair, and the United States and 28 other countries endorsed Britain's assessment of the IRGC's role in a joint statement. The Islamic Republic's embassy in London has denied any link to those arrested.

According to the MI5 chief, the Islamic Republic has gone from targeting dissidents and Jews to attacking military installations on European soil.