Osama bin Laden killed in U.S. operation in Pakistan, White House says
(Redirected from Osama bin Laden dead, report U.S. officials)
Monday, May 2, 2011
U.S. officials last night said Osama bin Laden, the al-Qaeda leader and orchestrator of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and embassy bombings in 1998, had been killed by U.S. special forces in Abbottabad, Pakistan near the capital Islamabad.
White House officials say that four others were killed in the
forty-minute raid that began at 2000 UTC yesterday—including a woman
said to have been used as a human shield. One of those shot is thought
to be bin Laden's son. An American helicopter was lost due to mechanical
failure, but no U.S. forces or civilians were killed.
U.S. President Barack Obama
announced the news in a statement late last night. "I can report to the
American people and to the world, that the U.S. has conducted an
operation that killed Osama bin Laden," Obama said. He confirmed he had
been told in August of a lead to the location of bin Laden, and approved
the operation last week. The operation involved a "small team of
Americans", Obama said.
The operation, led by the CIA, occurred nearly ten years after the 9/11 attacks. CIA director Leon Panetta notified U.S. legislators Sunday about the news. His body was verified using several methods, including DNA testing with DNA from a dead sister's body, stored in a Boston, Massachusetts hospital, as well as facial recognition. However, staff at the hospital in question—Massachusetts General Hospital—have
not been able to "find any evidence" of the body ever being stored
there. U.S. officials said his body was then buried at sea at around
0600 UTC today, "in accordance with Islamic law and traditions" and
because of the difficulty of finding a country that would accept the
remains of the world's most wanted man. Saudi Arabia, the country in which Osama bin Laden was born, refused a U.S. offer to take the body.
Celebrations in U.S.; European Parliament says world is 'safer'
Following the President's announcement, people started gathering in front of the White House in Washington, D.C., Times Square and Ground Zero—the site of the World Trade Center—in New York, to celebrate; singing the national anthem. Michael Bloomberg,
the mayor of New York City, said he hoped the death of bin Laden would
"bring some closure and comfort to all those who lost loved ones on
September 11, 2001".
The U.S. government is reportedly expecting al-Qaeda to soon release
what they are likely to call a "martyr tape"—an audio recording made by
bin Laden to be broadcast after his death.
Although the death of the 54-year-old bin Laden, who was the most
wanted person in the world, was greeted with celebration in the U.S.,
analysts have warned that al-Qaeda will "undoubtedly" launch a
retaliatory attack. "I think the significance of what has happened
cannot really be overstated," John Gearson, director of the Centre for
Defence Studies at King's College London, said.
"There will be concerns that there could be some sort of retaliation,
that al-Qaeda may well want to demonstrate that they are still strong
and still in the game." He warned that U.S. officials may "lose their
focus" after such a major victory, "and that will provide an opportunity
for the remnants of al-Qaeda to reform and grow stronger."
I can report to the American people and to the world, that the U.S. has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden. | ||
Hillary Clinton,
the U.S. Secretary of State, appealed to Islamic militant fighters to
use the opportunity of bin Laden's death to abandon their groups. "Our
message to the Taliban remains the same, but today it may have even
greater resonance: you cannot wait us out," she said. "You cannot defeat
us. But you can make the choice to abandon Al Qaeda and cooperate in a
peaceful political process."
The president of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek, said that "we have waken up in a safer world", with the news bringing "safety to millions of people", whilst U.S. senator John McCain
sought to remind the American people to "be mindful that al-Qaeda and
its terrorist allies are still lethal and determined enemies". The Kremlin
reiterated that "revenge is inescapable for all terrorists", and that
"only a joint struggle against global terrorism can bring a result".
The United Kingdom's Foreign Secretary, William Hague,
sought to remind people bin Laden was "the world's most prominent
leader", going on to say that "it was of great importance that he was
still alive and active, and it is unequivocally a good thing that he is
no longer able to pursue terror, murder and mayhem in the world".
Mentioning that security at British embassies worldwide have been
increased in the wake of the news, he reiterated that the death of the
al-Qaeda leader was a "serious blow", and that, "like any organisation
that has suffered a serious blow, they will want to show in some way
that they are still able to operate".
Nicolas Sarkozy, the president of France, welcomed the news, along with many other European
countries. He praised the "tenacity" of the U.S. attack, congratulating
the "major blow" the move dealt to al-Qaeda. Eight French citizens were
killed last week in a bomb blast in Marrakesh,
and, although no group has yet claimed responsibility, it is speculated
that al-Qaeda were behind the attack. Sarkozy paid homage to them, as
well as other around the world, saying the "victims received justice
today and France has thoughts for them and their families".
It is unequivocally a good thing that he is no longer able to pursue terror, murder and mayhem in the world. | ||
—William Hague, British Foreign Secretary
|
Pakistani involvement
Pakistani officials were not informed of the planned raid, with the
White House saying this was "essential to the security of the operation
and our personnel". However Obama emphasised that cooperation with
Pakistan had helped in finding bin Laden. The operation, described by
one senior White House official as "a surgical raid by a small team
designed to minimise collateral damage", was not intended to take bin
Laden alive. "It was a kill mission", said one security official. Bin
Laden died after being shot in the head.
Witnesses in Abbottabad have described how the U.S. forces carried
out the raid on the compound, which had significant security features,
including walls up to 18-foot high topped with barbed wire. "We saw four
helicopters at around 2am. We were told to switch off lights of our
homes and stay inside," one witness, who lives in the town of Bilal
in Abbottabad, said. The man confirmed he had seen the wreckage of the
U.S. military helicopter which crashed after experiencing mechanical
difficulties.
Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs
said in a statement that the U.S. "operation was conducted [by] U.S.
forces in accordance with declared U.S. policy that Osama bin Laden will
be eliminated in a direct action by the U.S. forces, wherever found in
the world", noting that almost "30,000 Pakistani civilians" had been
killed in terrorist attacks in recent years, with the "nation fully
united in [its] resolve to eliminate terrorism".
We saw four helicopters at around 2am. We were told to switch off lights of our homes and stay inside. | ||
—Witness in Abbottabad, Pakistan
|
However, Pervez Musharraf,
a former president of Pakistan, criticised the U.S. involvement,
describing the operation as a "violation of [Pakistani] sovereignty,"
and saying the raid was a "a failure of both Pakistani and U.S.
intelligence"; he stressed it would have been "far better" if the Pakistani Special Services Group
had carried out the attack. Musharraf went on to say he was "surprised"
bin Laden was found in Abbottabad, but added the terrorist leader "had
declared war against Pakistan", and that the news came as a "victory for
the people of Pakistan and all the peace loving people of the world".
The news that bin Laden was hiding just a few hundred metres from Pakistan Military Academy, a similar institution to the U.S. West Point Academy or the UK Sandhurst,
has been met with embarrassment on behalf of the Pakistani government,
and scepticism from others. "This is a serious blow to the credibility
of Pakistan", according to one Pakistani security analyst. Earlier
today, Afghanistan president Hamid Karzai maintained he knew bin Laden was in Pakistan: "For 10 years we told NATO
and the world community but for ten years they didn't listen to our
voice. They burned Afghanistan for ten years but Osama was in
Islamabad."
Whilst many governments worldwide welcomed the death of bin Laden, more than 800 people marched in the Pakistani city of Quetta,
paying homage to bin Laden and burning a U.S. flag. According to the
organizer, "Bin Laden was the hero of the Muslim world and after his
martyrdom he has won the title of great mujahed". At the march, pro-Taliban and anti-United States sentiments were chanted, before the protesters dispersed peacefully.
Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan
have denied that bin Laden has been killed, although in a conference
call to several Pakistani media outlets, a rebel spoksperson threatened
to seek revenge: "If Bin Laden attained martyrdom, then we will avenge
his death and we will attack the governments of Pakistan and the United
States and their security forces".
Although no images of bin Laden's body have been released, the Obama administration is, according to ABC News, in possession of gruesome photographs: a "massive head wound" where he took a bullet, with "blood and brains clearly visible".
The price of oil has dropped following the announcement after
speculation that the death of bin Laden will lower the risk of supply
disruption in the Middle East, with a barrel of crude oil for June delivery falling by $1.92.
Related news
- ""Osama to Obama": Bin Laden addresses US President" — Wikinews, January 25, 2010
- "Pakistani prime minister says Osama Bin Laden not in the country" — Wikinews, December 3, 2009
Sources
- AFP. "Hundreds join first Pakistan rally to honour bin Laden" — Herald Sun, May 2, 2011
- "Press Briefing by Senior Administration Officials on the Killing of Osama bin Laden" — The White House, May 2, 2011
- "Obama’s Remarks on Bin Laden’s Killing" — New York Times, May 2, 2011
- "Reports: Osama bin Laden dead Derek Cheng and Hayden Donnell" — NZ Herald, May 2, 2011
- Simon Mann. "Osama bin Laden dead: reports" — Sydney Morning Herald, May 2, 2011
- Julie Pace. "Sources: Al-Qaida Head Bin Laden Dead" — ABC News, May 2, 2011
- "CIA operation kills Osama bin Laden in Pakistan" — Los Angeles Times, May 2, 2011
- "Al Qaeda Leader Osama Bin Laden 'Is Dead'" — Sky News, May 2, 2011
- Simon Mann. "Osama bin Laden dead" — Brisbane Times, May 2, 2011
- Mark Hosenball and Jeff Mason. "Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden dead, Obama says" — Chicago Tribune, May 2, 2011
- Associated Press. "Crowds Gather In NYC, DC After Bin Laden Killed" — NPR, May 2,2011
- Richard Adams. "Osama bin Laden is dead - reaction" — The Guardian, May 2, 2011
- Declan Walsh, Richard Adams. "Osama bin Laden is dead, Obama announces" — The Guardian, May 2, 2011
- Press Association. "Al-Qa’ida 'will strike back'" — The Independent, May 2, 2011
- Press Release: "Death of Osama bin Ladin" — Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Pakistan), May 2, 2011
- "Osama bin Laden dead: live news and reaction" — The Guardian, May 2, 2011
- Christian Schmollinger and Ayesha Daya. "Oil Drops Most in Two Weeks After U.S. Says Bin Laden Killed in Pakistan" — Bloomberg, May 2, 2011
- Press Trust of India. "Osama's killing: US lawmakers warn Al Qaeda exists" — Business Standard, May 2, 2011
- Reuters. "U.S. official: Osama bin Laden has been buried at sea" — Haaretz, May 2, 2011
- "Russia welcomes killing of bin Laden - agencies" — Reuters, May 2, 2011
- Donovan Slack and Farah Stockman. "Bin Laden dead" — The Boston Globe, May 2, 2011
- Toby Harnden. "Osama bin Laden killed: how the deadly US raid unfolded" — The Daily Telegraph, May 2, 2011
- Reuters. "US team's mission was to kill Osama bin Laden, not capture" — Jerusalem Post, May 2, 2011
- Bonnie Malkin, Ben Hazell, Tom Chivers. "Osama bin Laden killed: live coverage" — Daily Telegraph, May 2, 2011
- "US has violated our sovereignty: Musharraf" — NDTV, May 2, 2011
- Press Release: "Foreign Secretary: "Need to remain vigilant against al-Qaeda"" — UK Foreign Office, May 2, 2011
- Vaiju naravane. "Fight against al Qaeda must continue: Sarkozy" — The Hindu, May 2, 2011
- "TTP says Osama bin Laden alive" — Yahoo News, May 2, 2011
- "Bin Laden´s Death Confirmed, Taliban Vows Revenge" — Escambray (newspaper), May 2, 2011
- "Bin Laden remains buried at sea; DNA work confirms death" — The Star, May 2, 2011
- "FBI slaps 'Deceased' on bin Laden wanted poster" — Agence France Presse, May 2, 2011
- "Osama bin Laden, the face of terror, killed in Pakistan" — CNN, May 1,2011
- Peter Baker, Helene Cooper, Mark Mazzetti. "Bin Laden Is Dead, Obama Says" — New York Times, May 1, 2011
- Jake Tapper. "White House Officials Debate Releasing Photographs of Bin Laden’s Corpse" — ABC News, May 2, 2011
- "World 'safer' without Bin Laden, says Obama" — BBC News Online, May 2, 2011
- S.I. Rosenbaum. "Osama's sister's brain: the Boston Connection" — The Phoenix, May 2, 2011
http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Osama_bin_Laden_killed_in_U.S._operation_in_Pakistan,_White_House
Penulis : Drs.Simon Arnold Julian Jacob
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