Troops told: Your jogging apps run risk of ‘Lee Rigby’ attacks

BRITISH troops have been warned against using internet fitness apps over fears that IS terrorists could use them for information to mount a sickening Lee Rigby-style attack.

In a series of secret briefings, soldiers based in Britain have been told how jihadists are trying to find out about their running habits – so they can plan where and when to target them.

Service personnel are among the many joggers who share their favourite routes on websites such as MapMyRun. It has databases of users’ pictures, times and dates of runs and maps of favourite routes.

The details are available to members of MapMyRun and anyone can join the site simply by providing an email address or a link to a Facebook account. The warning comes as troops remain on high alert after the attempted seizure of an airman near RAF Marham, Norfolk, in July. He fought off two men who tried to pull him into a vehicle when he was running alone.

A military source said: ‘Apps such as MapMyRun are very popular with troops.

‘But they need to ask themselves if telling the world that they jog along an isolated lane or through a densely wooded area at the same time each week is such a good idea.’

At a briefing in London, Welsh Guards were told how a security exercise had been staged to illustrate the threat. A source said: ‘Apparently British Special Forces managed to capture a soldier after studying his uploads on a fitness site about where and when he went running.

‘The message was understood loud and clear. Nobody can afford to be flippant about uploading their training routes on these sites.’

Troops have also been advised to run in pairs.

The Ministry of Defence does not discuss Special Forces operations or specific security measures but a spokesman said: ‘All personnel are given guidance on appropriate social media use. We keep anything that reveals the location of personnel under review as their security is of utmost importance.’