'UK nuclear HQ, sensitive military sites under terror threat'

Top security experts have warned that Britain's sensitive military sites, including its nuclear defence headquarters, could be under threat from terrorists using Google Earth.

Close-up aerial views of the sensitive military sites including top-secret Naval base with longitude and latitude of the facility in Faslane, Scotland — home to the UK’s Trident-armed nuclear submarine force are available for free over the internet.

Two vast Vanguard Class submarines — each capable of carrying 16 nuclear missiles can be clearly seen. Apart from the the HM Naval Base Clyde at Faslane, the Trident Special Area, where nuclear warheads are stored, are clearly revealed.

Fears have been expressed by military top brass that it would make it easy for terrorists to launch accurate mortar or rocket attacks on Britain's nuclear defence HQ using Google Earth.

"A strike on our nuclear capability would cause untold devastation. Terrorists could have a field day, knowing exactly where to aim strikes to cause the maximum devastation,” an unnamed top security expert was quoted as saying by The Sun

The Internet search engine can be used to pinpoint Britain’s nuclear crisis HQ in Northwood, North London, MI6’s London offices and the SAS training facility in Hereford, the report said.

"If people are really determined to target these sites they can find these images and there is nothing we can do to stop them,” an MOD spokesman told the British tabloid.

“We should be censoring sensitive military sites, not only for the protection of the servicemen and women, but also for the protection of the country,” a military source
underlined.