Kathrine Frich
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans has urged families, educators, and professionals to be alert.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans has urged families, educators, and professionals to be alert.
A Chilling Alert
British counterterrorism officials have issued a chilling alert: foreign adversaries like Russia, China, and Iran are actively attempting to recruit British teenagers to carry out surveillance, sabotage, and even violence on UK soil.
Russia Accused of Targeting Teens Online
Officials say Russia is among the most aggressive states exploiting online platforms to manipulate disillusioned young people into acting as proxy agents.
These recruits are allegedly approached via encrypted messaging apps and social networks.
Criminal Proxies Becoming the New Front Line
Teenagers and petty criminals are being lured into hostile activity with small cash payments, officials say.
Many of these recruits don’t understand the scope or consequences of their actions, yet are drawn into “unwittingly significant operations.”
From Misinformation to Arson and Kidnapping
Authorities say recruits have been linked to arson attacks, surveillance of sensitive sites, and even kidnapping plots.
These aren’t isolated incidents. Police have launched multiple “threat to life” operations involving minors in the past year.
Fivefold Rise in State Threats Since 2018
Counter Terrorism Policing reports that hostile state activity has increased fivefold since 2018.
Roughly 20% of current casework now involves espionage, sabotage, or state-backed violence — a dramatic shift from traditional terrorism cases.
“There’s Never Been a Time Like This”
Commander Dominic Murphy of the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command warned:
“There has never been a time like now for the scale of the threat we see in state threats.”
He said the situation now includes both threats to life and national integrity.
Dylan Earl Case Highlights the Risk
Officials cited the case of 20-year-old Dylan Earl, who was allegedly recruited online by the Wagner Group and later orchestrated an arson attack on a Ukraine-linked warehouse in the UK.
He was reportedly offered the chance to build a “small army” for Russia.
New Tactics Since the Salisbury Poisonings
Commander Murphy explained that since the 2018 Salisbury poisonings, Russia has shifted its tactics.
They have gone from elite agents carrying out covert hits to recruiting UK-based, vulnerable individuals online to execute chaotic, low-cost attacks.
Iran and China Also Under Scrutiny
Iran is described as posing a “very real physical threat,” with UK police regularly disrupting Tehran-linked plots.
Meanwhile, China’s activities include reports of undeclared “police stations” and bounties placed on pro-democracy dissidents.
Law Enforcement Responds With New Powers
Under the National Security Act, introduced in December 2023, there have already been ten charges relating to hostile state activity.
Officials say these powers are critical to protecting the UK from both internal and external threats.
Parents and Teachers Urged to Stay Vigilant
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans has urged families, educators, and professionals to be alert to signs of radicalisation or manipulation online.
“If you’re concerned, ask questions. Don’t wait,” she said. “We need to protect people from being drawn in.”
Hostile States Aim to Undermine Public Trust
Evans warned that these foreign operations are designed not only to cause physical harm but to fracture British society, erode democratic institutions, and sow deep mistrust in national systems, from media to law enforcement.
