Russia is targeting UK’s infrastructure and democracy, GCHQ head to say

Russia is relentlessly targeting Britain’s infrastructure and democracy while there is only a narrowing technological window to stay ahead of a fast-developing China, the head of the spy agency GCHQ will warn in a lecture on Wednesday. Anne Keast-Butler, giving an inaugural annual lecture, will say that the UK is caught in a “new era of radical uncertainty” and that “the risk of miscalculation” is as high as she has ever seen it as hacker attacks from the two states continue. The spy chief will particularly emphasise the wide-ranging threats posed by Russia, saying that Moscow is “relentlessly targeting critical infrastructure, democratic processes, supply chains and public trust” in the UK. This requires GCHQ , which specialises in electronic intelligence, to fend off cyber-attacks and counter “reckless sabotage and assassination attempts” in its efforts to protect the UK and support western allies and Ukraine. During the Ukraine war, Russia has also targeted the UK and other allies with sabotage and disruption campaigns, she will say. In one instance, firebombs were placed in DHL parcels , with one catching light in Leipzig, Germany and a second at a warehouse in Birmingham, having travelled from the continent by plane. …