Osama bin Laden, the world’s most wanted terrorist, was killed in Pakistan as the result of a U.S. military operation, President Obama announced from the East Room in the White House late Sunday night.
“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,” said Obama.
Just months before the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the U.S., for which al Qaeda led by Bin Laden had taken responsibility, Obama said “Justice has been done.”
“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,” Obama said, adding, “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.”
Al Qaeda also took responsibility for the bombings of U.S. embassies in 1998 in Tanzania and Kenya. More than 200 people were killed in the attacks. Al Qaeda also claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing of the U.S. Cole in 2000 while it was harbored and refueling in the Yemeni port of Aden. The blas t killed 17 servicemen, injuring 39.
