Osama bin Laden dead
OSAMA bin Laden is dead, US president Barack Obama announced today.
The man responsible for the September 11 terror attacks on New York's World Trade Centre in 2001 and the London 7/7 London bombings in 2005 was killed by US special forces in a daring raid in Pakistan.
Incredibly, after ten years on the run since the Twin Towers collapsed, he was holed up not in a moutain hideaway but a $1million house in one of the country's most desirable towns - just a hundred yards from Pakistan's own version of military academy Sandhurst.
The body of the al-Qaeda mastermind has already been buried at sea according to reports - under Islamic custom the dead must be buried within 24 hours.
Mr Obama announced the death of the elusive mastermind in the town of Abbotabad yesterday in a dramatic White House speech saying: "Justice has been done."
He had been told bin Laden could be hiding out in the compound as long ago as August last year but it took eight months for intelligence officers to establish he was there for sure, before Mr Obama could be shown photographic evidence.
The terror chief had been on the run for so long the CIA had nicknamed him "Elvis" because there were so many far-fetched sightings reported.
Bin Laden had been living behind high walls topped with razor wire. Couriers brought him everything he and his family needed to survive and there were no phone lines into the property.
Abbotabad is a major military town less than two hours from Pakistan's capital Islamabad and was named after British Army major James Abbott who founded it in 1853.
Just 10 days ago Pakistan's army chief addressed army cadets at the nearby academy, saying the country's military had broken the back of militants linked to al-Qaeda and the Taliban.
The final hunt for the Saudi-born extremist - shot in the head when he tried to flee - began when the CIA identified one of his couriers after a captive of Guantanamo Bay gave them his nickname around four years ago.
By January this year intelligence officials had identified the area they were living and realised they appeared to live in a house far larger than they could afford.
Video: Osama Bin Laden killed
BARACK OBAMA confirms terrorist was killed in American-led operation
One of the four American helicopters used in the raid - which took just 40 minutes in total - crashed as gunmen opened fire from the roof of the compound. One of bin Laden's sons was also said to be among the dead.
There were public displays of celebration as the news travelled round the world.
Crowds of Americans gathered in front of the White House as news broke that Mr Obama was about to announce a "major development" in the hunt for bin Laden.
President Obama said: "I can report to the American people and to the world that the US has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden.
"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."
Mr Obama spoke to former presidents George W Bush and Bill Clinton before announcing bin Laden's death.
It is a major accomplishment for Mr Obama and his national security team, after many Americans had given up hope of ever finding bin Laden.
Video: Obama statement on Bin Laden
US President's full statement following the death of 9/11 mastermind
A crowd gathered outside the White House to celebrate, chanting "USA, USA."
George W Bush had repeatedly vowed to bring bin Laden to justice "dead or alive" for the September 11 attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people, but never did before leaving office in early 2009.
Having the body may help convince any doubters that bin Laden is really dead.
He had been the subject of a search since he eluded US soldiers and Afghan militia forces in a large-scale assault on the Tora Bora mountains of Afghanistan in 2001.
The trail quickly went cold after he disappeared and many intelligence officials believed he had been hiding in Pakistan.
While in hiding, bin Laden had taunted the West and advocated his militant Islamist views in videotapes spirited from his hideaway.
Besides 9/11, Washington has also linked bin Laden to a string of attacks -- including the 1998 bombings of American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania and the 2000 bombing of the warship USS Cole in Yemen.
"The fight against terror goes on, but tonight America has sent an unmistakable message: No matter how long it takes, justice will be done," he said.
Video: David Cameron on Bin Laden
PRIME MINISTER says that news 'will be welcomed right across our country'
Prime Minister David Cameron was informed by phone in the early hours of this morning and said news of bin Laden's death would "bring great relief to people across the world".
But the father of a man killed in the September 11 attacks said it could not bring closure.
Nigel Thompson, who worked as a stockbroker with Cantor Fitzgerald, was 33 when he was killed after the first plane hit the North Tower.
Dad Norman, from Sheffield, said: "I'm pleased, definitely. It doesn't bring our son back - we've lost him.
"It would bring justice, definitely, but certainly no closure."
Douglas Eaton, whose son Robert was killed in the September 11 attack, said he feared it would spark more attacks.
"I had no particular feeling of euphoria," he said.
"If it leads to more peace in the world, one can only applaud it, but my concern is that there could be more outbreaks of violence because of what has happened.
"It would appear that he has had plenty of support otherwise he wouldn't have survived for so long."
Witness Mohammad Idrees lives around 400m from the house and said residents were woken in the night by the sound of a large explosion.
He said: "We rushed to the rooftop and saw flames near that house. We also heard some gunshots.
"Soon after the blast, we saw military vehicles rushing to the site of the blast."
Another resident, Nasir Khan, said commandos encircled the compound as three helicopters hovered overhead.
"All of a sudden there was firing towards the helicopters from the ground," said Khan, who had watched the drama unfold from his rooftop.
"There was intense firing and then I saw one of the helicopters crash."
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