Queen’s security files revealed after USB found lying in the street

A secret underground route the Queen takes to the airport has been exposed after a USB containing sensitive Heathrow security data was found in the street. 

Files on the drive could be accessed without a passcode and also included security measures for politicians and dignitaries, timetables of security patrols guarding against terror attacks and what type of ID is required to access restricted areas.

A man came across the drive in North London and handed it to the Sunday Mirror after accessing the 174 highly-sensitive documents on it through a library computer. 

He was able to access 2.5GB of files, which also included a map of the airport's Royal Suite, used by the Queen, as well as other equipment used by Her Majesty. There was also top secret information about underground routes through tunnels and escape shafts that the Queen could take out of London.

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A security source told the Daily Mirror that the incident could have been a lot worse. "In the wrong hands this would represent a profound threat in terms of terrorism or espionage," they said. 

"Aviation security is under the microscope because of the desire by terrorists to bring planes down in a spectacular fashion. Security services would not want this leaked or sold to hostile parties.”

Heathrow is by far the UK's busiest airport, with 75 million passengers passing through it last year.

It isn’t clear who compiled the USB stick, which was found in Queen’s Park, London, or how they accessed the information.