Senior British police officials warned on Thursday that the United Kingdom is facing a growing array of threats facilitated by online platforms and emerging technology. According to Vicki Evans, a senior national coordinator for counterterrorism at the Metropolitan Police, the nation is engaged in a “continual battle” against these digital risks. Evans emphasized that law enforcement cannot tackle this challenge alone and requires significant assistance from technology companies.
While Islamic extremism remains the primary security concern, the landscape has shifted over the last five years. Laurence Taylor, head of counterterrorism police, noted that threats from far-right groups and hostile states have expanded significantly. Evans highlighted that the threat posed by hostile nations has become the “most rapidly escalating mission” for counterterrorism units. Recent incidents underscore this trend: two Romanian men were jailed in July for stabbing a journalist at a Persian-language TV station on behalf of the Iranian government. In June, a Ukrainian and a Romanian man were imprisoned for an arson plot against property linked to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, which was described as Russian state-backed sabotage. Furthermore, in May, a UK border official and a former Hong Kong police officer were convicted of spying for China.
Evans reported that in 2025 alone, there were over 20 Iranian-backed plots involving kidnappings, assassinations, and other serious offenses. Investigators are also examining potential links between Iran and arson attacks on Jewish sites earlier this year. Meanwhile, Russia is accused of maintaining a “constant stream of surveillance plots” to identify perceived enemies and facilitate proxy operations. This includes recruiting individuals via apps like Telegram for vandalism or arson, such as the attack on a London warehouse storing equipment for Ukraine. Dylan Earl, the ringleader of that plot, was recruited by the Wagner Group, which the UK has designated as a terrorist organization. Police have even arrested teenagers as young as 15 in connection with such proxy activities.
The threat from the extreme far-right is also intensifying, leading to the UK’s threat level being raised from “substantial” to “severe” in April. Taylor pointed to a rise in “vile” online content, which he described as a “cocktail of racism, misogyny and extreme homophobia.” He cited the case of 18-year-old Alina Burns, who was sentenced to nearly 20 years in prison in May for an ax attack motivated by extreme right-wing ideology. Taylor warned that such views are becoming increasingly prevalent as they face less opposition online.
Radicalization is increasingly targeting children, with Taylor noting that 22-year-old Alfie Coleman, recently sentenced to 13.5 years for attempting to acquire a firearm from an undercover officer, was radicalized online starting at age 14. Evans explained that bad actors manipulate young people by blending propaganda with gaming footage, music, and historical imagery. Some online groups even encourage users to compete in causing harm, ranging from cyberattacks and violence to child sexual abuse. Evans argued that the prevalence of “lawful but awful” content has skewed perceptions of normalcy, making individuals more susceptible to manipulation. While the government plans to ban social media for those under 16, Evans maintained that this is insufficient and urged for greater accountability for technology companies to curb the rapid, steep tipping point toward radicalization.
