(CNN) -
The pandemic has changed the way millions of people work, and even spies are not exempt.
Almost empty streets due to fewer people traveling to city centers can make it difficult for British spies to track down suspects, said the new head of MI5, the UK's national security service.
Ken McCallum told reporters Wednesday that his agents have adjusted the way they work as a result of the coronavirus crisis, after crowds decreased in public spaces.
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"They will not expect me to go into details, but common sense will tell them that covert surveillance is not easy on nearly empty streets," McCallum said in addressing the impact of the 2020 events on the intelligence agency.
“Our people have shown great dedication and imagination in continuing to provide the essential service that the country needs from us;
while, like everyone else, they bear the pressure on their families and lives in general, "he said.
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In his first engagement with journalists since taking office in March, McCallum also said terrorists have adjusted their targets as a result of the pandemic.
"The big changes in everyone's life - less travel, more online and the rest - mean changes in the way our adversaries operate," he said.
“Fewer crowds mean the terrorists are looking at different targets;
life online means more opportunities for hackers;
and so on".
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Britain decreed closures in March, with generally busy streets being left empty and the London Underground network carried a fraction of its regular passengers.
Since then, the crowds have returned to most British cities, albeit under stricter restrictions and with a 10pm curfew for pubs, bars and restaurants in England.
McCallum also revealed that nearly 30% of the major terrorist plots he has disrupted at a late stage since 2017 have been by far-right extremists.
He warned that the pan-European threat from the far right increased with "small but significant international connectivity."
CNN's Nick Paton Walsh contributed to this report.
