Monday, May 2, 2011

Osama Bin Laden killed in firefight and U.S. military has the body, President Obama announces

           Osama Bin Laden killed in firefight and U.S. military has the body, President Obama announces
Osama Bin Laden killed in firefight and U.S. military has the body, President Obama announces
Osama Bin Laden, the Saudi-born terror boss who plotted and funded the 9/11 attacks nearly a decade ago, was killed in a 40-minute firefight Sunday, President Obama announced Sunday night.
Bin Laden was shot in the head and his body is in the hands of the U.S. military, law enforcement sources said.
In a rare late-night speech from the East Wing of the White House, Obama faced the nation and the world at 11:36 p.m. to say the Al Qaeda founder is dead.
"Tonight, I can report to the American people and to the world that the United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama Bin Laden, the leader of Al Qaeda and a terrorist who's responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent men, women and children," Obama said.
PHOTOS: BIN LADEN'S LIFE AS TERROR LEADER
The President said Bin Laden, 54, was killed in a walled compound 35 miles from Islamabad, Pakistan, in an affluent retirement town called Abbottabad. Bin Laden fired some shots before being killed, military sources said.
U.S. intelligence first got wind in August of Bin Laden's whereabouts, but kept the information close to the vest - not even telling Pakistani officials - in order to protect the mission. On Friday, it was determined there was enough concrete information for him to authorize the attack on the compound and kill Bin Laden, Obama said.
"Justice has been done," Obama said.
Bin Laden was killed by a small American strike force of special ops that attacked the compound by helicopter.
"A small team of Americans carried out the operation with extraordinary courage and capability," Obama said. "No Americans were harmed. They took care to avoid civilian casualties."
Corpse positively identified
He said Bin Laden's body was recovered by U.S. officials and taken to Afghanistan, where it was confirmed the corpse is that of Bin Laden. It will be handled according to Islamic customs, officials said.
Three other adult men, including one of Bin Laden's sons, and a woman who was used as a human shield by the combatants were also killed, military sources said.
"After Sept. 11, 2001, we gave our word as Americans that we would stop at nothing to capture or kill Osama Bin Laden. After the contribution of millions, including so many who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation, we have kept that word," Mayor Bloomberg said.
"New Yorkers have waited nearly 10 years for this news," the mayor said. "It is my hope that it will bring some closure and comfort to all those who lost loved ones on Sept. 11, 2001."
Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly called Bin Laden's death a welcome "milestone."



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