Sir Ken McCallum, head of Britain's MI5 spy agency, made a public statement warning that the next 9/11-scale terror attack "may already be taking shape somewhere we are not yet looking." He emphasized the need for cooperation between government, business, academia, and the public to prevent such an attack. Unlike in 2001, many security systems are now operated by the private sector, requiring a shared national effort to combat terrorism. McCallum noted that Al Qaeda remains a threat, as do other groups with aspirations to carry out mass casualty attacks.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-11,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The head of Britain's MI5 spy agency, Jonathan McCallum, warned that the next 9/11-scale terror attack may already be planned and not be easily detectable. He made this statement in an editorial for the Independent newspaper, saying that the next strategic shock will likely come from a new and unforeseen threat. Unlike in 2001, many security systems are now operated by the private sector, making cooperation between government, business, academia, and the public essential to preventing the next attack. McCallum has been head of MI5 for over 25 years, and during this time he has seen Al Qaeda largely diminished, but still a threat, as well as other terror groups with aspirations to carry out mass casualty attacks.
Written for “Terror Attack Warning Issued” on 2026-09-12,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it +0.35, but all 2 of its quote(s) are attributed speech - words the article quotes from someone, not the article's own narration, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 7713: attributed speech only · logged 2026-09-11
The head of Britain’s MI5 spy agency made a rare public statement Friday to warn that the next 9/11-scale terror plot “may already be taking shape somewhere we are not yet looking.”
uncertain
we → make → shape
“We know that the next strategic shock will, by definition, not resemble the last one.
asserted
shock → know → one
That is perhaps the most important lesson of all,” McCallum wrote in an editorial for the Independent newspaper.
asserted
McCallum → write → newspaper
“We must of course always learn from the last attack – but must beware of preparing brilliantly to fight yesterday’s enemy, using yesterday’s methods, against yesterday’s target …
asserted
We → learn → target
The uncomfortable truth is that the next strategic shock may already be taking shape somewhere we are not yet looking.”
uncertain
we → take → shape
Unlike in 2001, McCallum said, many security systems and services are operated by the private sector — and preventing the next attack will require cooperation.
asserted
preventing → say → cooperation
“This is my call to arms after 25 years: government, business, academia, and the public must treat national security not as the specialist concern of a handful of agencies, but as a shared national endeavor.”
While Al Qaeda has been largely diminished over the last 25 years, it still remains a threat — as do other terror groups with aspirations to carry out mass casualty attacks, McCallum warned.
asserted
McCallum → treat → attacks
He also pointed to rising state-backed aggression, ranging from sabotage carried out by criminal proxies to cyberattacks on power stations.
asserted
He → point → stations
“Sadly, mass-casualty terrorist ambition endures… but the terrorist threat now sits alongside strategic national security threats posed by capable states,” he wrote.
asserted
he → endure → states
With Post Wires
Director General of MI5 Sir Ken McCallum delivers the annual Director General's Speech in October 2025, Getty Images
The second plane seen hitting the World Trade Center on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001.
asserted
McCallum → deliver → Tuesday
The World Trade Center seen with billowing smoke after an airplane struck it on Sept. 11, 2001.
asserted
airplane → see → Sept.
People are seen walking as debris from the World Trade Center towers falling is seen in the air on Sept. 11, 2001.
asserted
debris → see → Sept.
