Top secret MI6 camera bought on eBay

Details of the camera held information about Osama Bin Laden's men

A man who purchased a second-hand camera from eBay for £17 has discovered it held top-secret MI6 information including details of an al-Qaeda terrorist.

In the latest in security blunder, the Nikon coolpix camera, which was previously owned by an MI6 agent, held names, finger prints and suspects' information.

There were also pictures of missiles and rocket launchers which spooks believe Iran is supplying to Osama Bin Laden's men.

It also held details of one of al-Qaeda's highest ranking lieutenants, Abdul al-Hadi al Iraqi who was captured by the CIA in 2007 and is being held in Guantanamo Bay.

The camera was brought by a 28-year-old delivery man from Hemel Hempstead who had no idea about the camera's past.

He purchased it on eBay to take on holiday to the states but only discovered the secret material after downloading his own pictures.

Knowing he hadn't taken the pictures he took the information to Hemel Hampstead police station, who at first assumed it was a joke.

But within days Special Branch, the team of anti-terror officers descended onto his home, took the camera and his computer and spent £1000 on replacements.

“This information would have been dynamite in the wrong hands,” a source told the Daily Mirror.

“This guy thought he'd got a bargain but little did he know the trouble it would cause.”

Special Branch is now trying to trace the whereabouts of the MI6 agent that the camera belongs to.

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Can not understand why a new computer was essential - a new hard drive tops - or a reformat with security overwrite would have sufficed surely?

- Dg, Cheltenham

But Sinnick, they forked out for replacements. It's not all bad. If I was that agent though, I would seriously think about going undercover as they are going to be in for the mother of all scoldings!

- Miss X, Bucks UK

Moral is; if you buy or land yourself any sensitive info from the comedic Government and all associated agencies, don't hand to police, because they will seize your stuff as if YOU were the criminal.

- Sinnick, London, Land of Tax

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