Sir Ken McCallum, head of MI5, has warned that the UK faces greater security threats now than on 9/11, citing Russia and China as major concerns alongside terrorism. The statement comes amid heightened global tensions and a renewed focus on national security. McCallum emphasized that the threat level is at 'severe,' indicating a high likelihood of an attack.

The community is split on whether the threat level is accurately assessed. Some argue that the 'severe' designation is an overstatement, while others support the need for a 'whole nation' response to state-backed aggression. User 'tardigrade' highlighted that Russia has used a full spectrum of attacks against the UK over the past 15 years, including state-sponsored murder and cyber attacks on critical infrastructure. Others called for new laws and tradecraft to counter state-backed aggression, including sabotage, cyber attacks, and interference in democracy.

The weight of opinion suggests that while many agree with McCallum's assessment of the threat level, there is significant debate over the appropriate response. The community consensus leans toward acknowledging the severity of the threat, but there are clear fault lines over how to address it effectively.