UK Under Attack From Global Spy Agencies: Report

UK Under Attack From Global Spy Agencies: Report

(NSI News Source Info) London - February 9, 2009: Britain has become a top target of global spy agencies, particularly those from China and Russia, seeking to steal its most sensitive secrets and cutting edge technologies, a government document has revealed.

The report, which was drawn up by an Army intelligence cell inside Whitehall, warns that foreign spies are trying to steal secrets related to the military, optics, communications, genetics and aviation industries.

Russia and China have been identified as having the most active spy networks from 20 foreign intelligence agencies, who are targeting Britain for cutting edge technologies and other most sensitive secrets, The Sunday Telegraph reported on Sunday.

"Whilst our primary threat would seem to come from international terrorism, it is important that we do not lose sight of another omnipresent threat. Espionage against UK interests continues to come from many quarters," warned the security document obtained by British daily.

"In the past, espionage activity was typically directed towards obtaining political and military intelligence. In today's high-tech world, the intelligence requirements of a number of countries now include new communications technologies, IT, genetics, aviation, lasers, optics, electronics and many other fields. Intelligence services, therefore, are targeting commercial enterprises far more than in the past," said the report.

In a speech in November 2007, Jonathan Evans, the director general of MI5, said that foreign intelligence services were active in the UK, with the Russians at the forefront of covert operations, the British report said.