Osama bin Laden is dead, Obama says
By the CNN Wire Staff
May 2, 2011 -- Updated 0534 GMT (1334 HKT)
Osama bin Laden, the longtime leader of al Qaeda, was killed by U.S. forces in
a mansion outside of Islamabad, Pakistan.
Osama bin Laden, the longtime leader of al Qaeda, was killed by U.S. forces in
a mansion outside of Islamabad, Pakistan.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
* Obama confirms that U.S. officials have taken custody of bin Laden's body
* Source: State Department to issue "worldwide caution" for Americans
* Hundreds of people cheer outside the White House
* Official: Bin Laden was killed along with other family members outside
Islamabad
(CNN) -- The mastermind of the worst terrorist attack on American soil is dead,
U.S. President Barack Obama announced late Sunday night, almost 10 years after
the attacks that killed almost 3,000 people.
Osama bin Laden -- the longtime leader of al Qaeda -- was killed by U.S. forces
in a mansion outside the Pakistani capital of Islamabad along with other family
members, a senior U.S. official told CNN.
In an address to the nation late Sunday night, Obama called bin Laden's death
"the most significant achievement to date in our nation's effort to defeat al
Qaeda."
Up-to-the-minute updates on bin Laden | President's statement
"Today, at my direction, the United States launched a targeted operation
against that compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan," Obama said. "A small team of
Americans carried out the operation with extraordinary courage and capability.
No Americans were harmed. They took care to avoid civilian casualties. After a
firefight, they killed Osama bin Laden and took custody of his body."
How U.S. forces conducted the mission | Video Video
Mansion where bin Laden died on fire
Obama: Osama bin Laden killed
New Yorkers celebrate bin Laden death
Bin Laden death 'a victory for U.S.'
RELATED TOPICS
* Osama bin Laden
* Terrorism
* Al Qaeda
U.S. diplomatic facilities around the world were placed on high alert following
the announcement of bin Laden's death, a senior U.S. official said, and the
U.S. State Department should be sending out a new "worldwide caution" for
Americans shortly. Some fear al Qaeda supporters may try to retaliate against
U.S. citizens or U.S. institutions.
U.S. issues travel warnings
Hundreds of people arrived at the White House late Sunday night and chanted,
"USA! USA!" They then chanted, "Hey, hey, goodbye!" in reference to the demise
of bin Laden and then spontaneously sang the national anthem.
"This welcome news is a credit to our intelligence efforts and brings to
justice the architect of the attacks on our country that killed nearly 3,000
people on September 11, 2001," said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, the ranking
Republican on the Homeland Security Committee, in a statement issued Sunday
night.
Osama bin Laden, the face of terror
The news brought some relief to the grieving family members of those killed on
9/11.
"This is important news for us, and for the world. It cannot ease our pain, or
bring back our loved ones," Gordon Felt, president of Families of Flight 93,
said in a statement. "It does bring a measure of comfort that the mastermind of
the September 11th tragedy and the face of global terror can no longer spread
his evil."
In his speech, Obama reiterated that the United States is not at war with Islam.
Celebrations in front of the White House Video
"I've made clear, just as President Bush did shortly after 9/11, that our war
is not against Islam. Bin Laden was not a Muslim leader; he was a mass murderer
of Muslims."
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a Muslim civil rights and
advocacy organization, released a statement Monday morning welcoming the death
of bin Laden.
iReport: Send us your reactions
"As we have stated repeatedly since the 9/11 terror attacks, bin Laden never
represented Muslims or Islam In fact, in addition to the killing of thousands
of Americans, he and Al Qaeda caused the deaths of countless Muslims
worldwide," the statement said. "We also reiterate President Obama's clear
statement tonight that the United States is not at war with Islam."
CNN's Ed Henry, Jeanne Meserve and Elise Labott contributed to this report
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