Latest news with #MI5
Daily Mail
11 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
MI5 boss warns terrorists will recruit children over school summer holidays after record numbers of teenagers are arrested
The head of MI5 has issued an unprecedented warning that terrorists are seeking to recruit children over the summer holidays after record arrests of teenagers. Sir Ken McCallum appealed to parents today warning online offenders will exploit the school break to draw children into criminal acts, saying just a 'few short clicks' can 'pull young people down a dangerous and potentially life-changing path'. The advisory issued for the first time jointly by MI5, Counter Terrorism Policing and the National Crime Agency comes after a record number of teenage arrests for terrorism offences. The Director General of MI5 said: 'In 2024 I said that 13 per cent of all those investigated by MI5 for involvement in terrorism were under 18. 'That deeply concerning presence of young people in our casework continues to this day. 'In a few short clicks, young people can be speaking to dangerous radicalising terrorists online, consuming violent and extremist content. 'Terrorists who understand online culture are using slick propaganda to pull young people down a dangerous and potentially life-changing path.' Of the 219 arrests for terrorism-related offences in 2023, a record 42 suspects were aged 17 or under. Last year there were 39 youngsters arrested aged 17 or under. Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) is increasingly seeing children being routinely exposed and completely desensitised to extreme and obscene content. Experts fear children will be viewing terrorism content, sexual violence, self-harm and suicide content, extreme gore, animal cruelty and indecent images of children during the summer holidays. CTP senior national coordinator for Prevent and pursue, Vicki Evans, said: 'Unfortunately, every year, we arrest children for terrorism offences, which tend to come about after they are led down the wrong path by extremists seeking to use the internet to target those whose age makes them vulnerable, or as a result of accessing harmful abhorrent content online. 'A significant proportion of their parents were unaware of their child's online activity - who they talked to, the content they viewed, and the sites and platforms they used. 'With the summer holidays now under way and children spending more time online, we're asking parents and carers to have conversations with the young people in their lives about what they are doing online and who they are speaking to. 'None of my colleagues started working in counter terrorism thinking they would be investigating and arresting children as young as 12 for terrorism offences. 'The online environment can be a sanctuary for children to socialise and form strong bonds but for all the benefits it brings, the internet has also globalised extremism. 'It has accelerated the spread of hateful ideologies internationally and made it possible for anyone with an internet connection to reach into the lives of children halfway round the world.' The Met Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matthew Ward said: 'We know parents care deeply about keeping their children safe online and given the ever-developing digital world it can feel like an uphill battle. 'We want parents to empower their children to know what to do if they come across inappropriate content online.' National Crime Agency Director of Threat Leadership Alexander Murray said: 'There is a fast-growing threat from sadistic and violent online gangs, made up predominantly of teenage boys, dedicated to inflicting harm and committing a range of criminality which includes fraud, cyber, child sexual abuse, violence and extremism/terror related offences. 'They are international and operate across multiple channels, including messaging apps, gaming platforms and other online forums. 'We are working closely with our partners in response to this complex threat, but we recommend that adults take time to understand the online lives of young people to help prevent them falling victim to these networks.'
Irish Independent
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Would-be spy who dreamt of being like 007 is found guilty of offering to work for Russia
Howard Phillips (65), from Harlow, Essex, intended to help two apparent Russian agents known as Sasha and Dima, including by passing on personal information about former defence secretary Grant Shapps, helping with travel logistics and booking hotels. But Dima and Sasha were undercover British intelligence officers, Winchester Crown Court previously heard. Yesterday, a jury found Phillips guilty under the National Security Act of assisting a foreign intelligence service, following a two-week trial. The jury reached a unanimous verdict after four hours and four minutes of deliberations. Phillips said nothing and shook his head in the dock as the verdict was given. Prosecutors said he intended to assist Russian agents from the end of 2023 until May last year. He offered to 'facilitate the Russians in listening on British defence plans' He offered to pass on Mr Shapps's contact details, as well as the location where he kept his private plane, to 'facilitate the Russians in listening on British defence plans', the trial heard. He was heard telling the men he wanted to work for Russia in exchange for financial independence from the UK. His ex-wife, Amanda Phillips, told the court he 'would dream about being like James Bond' and that he watched films to do with MI5 and MI6 because he was 'infatuated with it'. Ms Phillips told the court she was aware he had applied for a job at the UK Border Force in October 2023, which prosecutors said was part of his bid to assist Russia's intelligence service. ADVERTISEMENT Phillips previously claimed he had contacted the Russian embassy in early 2024 in a bid to track and expose Russian agents to assist Israel. He told jurors he ascertained 'from the onset' that Dima and Sasha were 'definitely not Russian' and were undercover individuals, but he carried on 'playing a role' around these agents in order to 'test the waters'. Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb remanded him in custody and adjourned sentencing to the 'earliest available date' in the autumn. She said she wanted a full pre-sentence report on the defendant before sentencing, as the conviction was for a 'relatively new' offence. Officers from the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command arrested Phillips in central London on May 16 last year after he travelled to the capital for a meeting with Dima and Sasha. Detective Chief Superintendent Helen Flanagan said: 'Phillips was unemployed and his primary motivation for wanting to become a spy for the Russian intelligence service was financial reward. 'His conviction should act as stark warning to anyone who thinks that carrying out illegal activity on behalf of a foreign state is an attractive or easy way to earn money. 'The reality is that we take this kind of activity extremely seriously. 'Those involved will be identified, investigated and, like Phillips, will face extremely serious consequences when they are convicted. 'This case is also another successful use of the National Security Act to prosecute someone who was attempting to undermine the security of the UK, and we will continue to use these powers available to us to help keep the public safe.' Phillips was unbothered about the potential detriment to his own country Bethan David, head of the Crown Prosecution Service's counter terrorism division, said: 'This conviction sends a clear message to anyone considering spying for or assisting Russia. 'Howard Phillips clearly outlined the services he was willing to provide for a hostile state. 'From gaining employment within the civil service and applying for security clearance to providing the personal details of the secretary of state for defence, Phillips was brazen in his pursuit for financial gain and unbothered about the potential detriment to his own country. 'It is a criminal offence to assist a foreign intelligence service, regardless of your motive or whether or not you succeed. 'We will always seek to prosecute anyone who poses a threat to the UK.'
BBC News
12 hours ago
- BBC News
Counter-terrorist bodies call issue summer holiday warning to parents
A number of UK agencies involved in fighting terrorism have issued a warning to parents that their children could be vulnerable to being influenced online during the summer holidays. For the first time, Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP), MI5, and the National Crime Agency (NCA) have issued a joint statement calling for greater vigilance. It is encouraging parents to discuss online safety with their children, alongside things like putting parental controls on devices and routers. The groups said they are increasingly seeing children "being routinely exposed to the most serious harmful online content". The groups said some of the most extreme content children were being exposed to includes "sexual violence; self-harm and suicide content; extreme gore; animal cruelty; indecent images of children; and terrorist content".In its statement, the groups said some of the children who come to the attention of the CTP and the NCA are "completely desensitised to extreme and obscene content".Vicki Evans, counter terrorism policing's senior national coordinator for Prevent, said that dealing with safety online in "the ever-developing digital world it can feel like an uphill battle"."We want parents to empower their children to know what to do if they come across inappropriate content online," she said. The National Crime Agency's Alexander Murray said that there is a "fast-growing threat from sadistic and violent online gangs, made up predominantly of teenage boys" - something which had been identified in its recent threat assessment. He said these groups are committed to "inflicting harm and committing a range of criminality which includes fraud, cyber, child sexual abuse, violence and extremism/terror related offences".The prevalence of younger offenders has been seen as part of a trend, with MI5 saying 2023 saw the highest number of arrests for young people since records began - with 42 of the 219 people investigated for terrorism being 17 or under. In 2024, 39 young people were investigated for terrorism-related offences. MI5's Director General, Sir Ken McCallum said the trend was "deeply concerning" and: "In a few short clicks, young people can be speaking to dangerous radicalising terrorists online, consuming violent and extremist content."
Rhyl Journal
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Rhyl Journal
British man convicted of trying to spy for Russian intelligence service
Howard Phillips, 65, from Harlow, Essex, intended to help two apparent Russian agents called 'Sasha' and 'Dima', including by passing on personal information about former defence secretary Sir Grant Shapps, helping with travel logistics and booking hotels. But 'Dima' and 'Sasha' were in fact undercover British intelligence officers, Winchester Crown Court previously heard. A jury found Phillips guilty of assisting a foreign intelligence service under the National Security Act on Tuesday, following a two-week trial at the same court. The jury reached a unanimous verdict after four hours and four minutes of deliberations. Phillips, wearing a dark suit and tie, silently shook his head in the dock as the verdict was given. Prosecutors said Phillips intended to assist Russian agents from the end of 2023 until May last year. Phillips offered to pass on Sir Grant's contact details as well as the location where he kept his private plane in order to 'facilitate the Russians in listening on British defence plans', the trial heard. He was heard telling the men he wanted to work for Russia in exchange for financial independence from the UK. The defendant's ex-wife, Amanda Phillips, told the court during the trial that he 'would dream about being like James Bond', and that he watched films to do with MI5 and MI6 as he was 'infatuated with it'. Mrs Phillips told the court she was aware the defendant had applied for a job at the UK Border Force in October 2023, which prosecutors said was part of his bid to assist Russia's intelligence service. Phillips previously claimed he had contacted the Russian embassy in early 2024 in a bid to track and expose Russian agents to assist Israel. He told jurors he ascertained 'from the onset' that 'Dima' and 'Shasha' were 'definitely not Russian' and were undercover individuals, but that he carried on 'playing a role' around these agents in order to 'test the waters'. Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb remanded Phillips in custody and adjourned sentencing to the 'earliest available date' in the autumn. The judge said she wanted a full pre-sentence report on the defendant ahead of sentencing as the conviction was for a 'relatively new' offence. Addressing the jurors, she said: 'Thank you very much for the important work that you have done on this very important case. 'We are trying, as a system, to get to the right answers in these situations.' Officers from the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command arrested Phillips in central London on May 16 last year, after he travelled to the capital for a meeting with the two apparent Russian agents. Detective Chief Superintendent Helen Flanagan said: 'Phillips was unemployed and his primary motivation for wanting to become a spy for the Russian Intelligence Service was financial reward. 'His conviction should act as stark warning to anyone who thinks that carrying out illegal activity on behalf of a foreign state is an attractive or easy way to earn money. 'The reality is that we take this kind of activity extremely seriously. 'Those involved will be identified, investigated and, like Phillips, will face extremely serious consequences when they are convicted. 'This case is also another successful use of the National Security Act to prosecute someone who was attempting to undermine the security of the UK and we will continue to use these powers available to us to help keep the public safe.' Bethan David, head of the Crown Prosecution Service's counter terrorism division, said: 'This conviction sends a clear message to anyone considering spying for or assisting Russia. 'Howard Phillips clearly outlined the services he was willing to provide for a hostile state. From gaining employment within the civil service and applying for security clearance, to providing the personal details of the Secretary of State for Defence – Phillips was brazen in his pursuit for financial gain and unbothered about the potential detriment to his own country. 'It is a criminal offence to assist a foreign intelligence service, regardless of your motive or whether or not you succeed. 'We will always seek to prosecute anyone who poses a threat to the UK.'
Qatar Tribune
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
UK man obsessed with James Bond convicted of trying to spy for Russia
DPA London A British man who 'dreamt about being like James Bond' has been found guilty of trying to spy for what he believed to be Russian intelligence service agents. The 65-year-old man intended to help two apparent Russian agents called 'Sasha' and 'Dima,' including by passing on personal information about former defence secretary Grant Shapps, helping with travel logistics and booking hotels. But 'Dima' and 'Sasha' were in fact undercover British intelligence officers, Winchester Crown Court previously heard. A jury found the man guilty of assisting a foreign intelligence service under the National Security Act on Tuesday, following a two-week trial at the same court. The jury reached a unanimous verdict after four hours and four minutes of deliberations. The man, wearing a dark suit and tie, silently shook his head in the dock as the verdict was said he intended to assist Russian agents from the end of 2023 until May last year. He offered to pass on Shapps' contact details as well as the location where he kept his private plane in order to 'facilitate the Russians in listening on British defence plans,' the trial heard. He was heard telling the men he wanted to work for Russia in exchange for financial independence from the UK. The defendant's ex-wife told the court during the trial that he 'would dream about being like James Bond,' and that he watched films to do with MI5 and MI6 as he was 'infatuated with it.' The ex-wife told the court she was aware the defendant had applied for a job at the UK Border Force in October 2023, which prosecutors said was part of his bid to assist Russia's intelligence service. The man previously claimed he had contacted the Russian embassy in early 2024 in a bid to track and expose Russian agents to assist Israel. He told jurors he ascertained 'from the onset' that 'Dima' and 'Shasha' were 'definitely not Russian' and were undercover individuals, but that he carried on 'playing a role' around these agents in order to 'test the waters.' Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb remanded the man in custody and adjourned sentencing to the 'earliest available date' in the judge said she wanted a full pre-sentence report on the defendant ahead of sentencing as the conviction was for a 'relatively new' offence. Addressing the jurors, she said: 'Thank you very much for the important work that you have done on this very important case. We are trying, as a system, to get to the right answers in these situations.'
