Senior British counterterrorism and policing officials have disclosed that technology and online platforms are now routinely exploited by hostile states, extremists and far-right groups to threaten the United Kingdom.
The assessment, delivered at New Scotland Yard, paints a picture of digital borders that remain porous. Vicki Evans, senior national coordinator for counterterrorism at the Metropolitan Police, described a continual battle against threats online and stated that police need greater assistance from technology companies. "There is a continual battle against threats online and it is not something we can do alone," she said.
Laurence Taylor, head of counterterrorism police, added that while Islamic extremism remains the biggest threat, dangers from far-right groups and hostile states have grown significantly over the past five years. The threat level was raised in April from substantial to severe, he noted, partly because cases linked to extreme far-right ideologies are growing substantially.
Rapidly escalating state threats
Evans identified the threat from hostile states as the most rapidly escalating mission for counterterrorism police. In 2025 there were more than 20 Iranian-backed plots in the UK, including assassinations, kidnappings and other serious crimes. Police are also investigating possible links to Iran in arson attacks against Jewish sites earlier this year.
Russia has maintained a constant stream of surveillance plots against people and institutions in Britain. These include recruitment via apps such as Telegram to carry out vandalism or fires, among them an attack on a London warehouse storing equipment for Ukraine. Teenagers as young as 15 have been arrested in connection with such proxy plots.
"This is not something that is happening elsewhere. It is happening here. This risk is in our neighbourhoods, in our online spaces and in our workplaces," Evans said.
