Britain: Attackers using Google Earth maps

BASRA, Iraq, Jan. 13 (UPI) -- Terrorists are using the Google Earth Internet tool to help guide their attacks on British bases in Iraq, sources tell The Daily Telegraph.

Raids on homes of insurgents last week found printouts of Google satellite photographs of British bases, including details such as lavatory blocks, Land Rover parking and tented areas, the intelligence sources told The Daily Telegraph.

One of the photographs, taken of the Shatt al Arab Hotel, which houses the Staffordshire Regiment battle group, had the camp's longitude and latitude written on the back, the newspaper said.

"This is evidence, as far as we are concerned, for planning terrorist attacks," an intelligence officer with the Royal Green Jackets battle group told The Daily Telegraph. "Who would otherwise have Google Earth imagery of one of our bases?"

A Google spokesman told the newspaper its information could be used for "good and bad."

"Of course we are always ready to listen to governments' requests," he said.