Russian SAS targeted Margaret Thatcher of Russian ­assassination plot

Margaret Thatcher was the target of a Russian ­assassination plot at the height of the Cold War, secret documents have revealed.

The Iron Lady was targeted by the Spetsnaz – the Soviet special forces – who in the event of hostilities breaking out ­wanted to kill her before she could launch a nuclear strike.

The PM was warned of the threat in 1981 by intelligence chief Sir Antony Acland in a report publicly just ­released from the ­National ­Archives under the 30-year rule. He is believed to have been tipped off by a Russian army defector smuggled into Britain by MI6.

Lady Thatcher, who had been Prime Minister for less than two years at the time, was the prime target of a special unit of 500 ­selected to infiltrate the UK before hostilities broke out.