The world’s most wanted man has been killed by US forces in an operation that took place yesterday – after eluding capture for more than ten years.
According to CNN, Osama bin Laden – allegedly the mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks on the USA, was killed in a mansion in Abbottabad, north of the Pakistani capital of Islamabad, along with other family members.
US President Barack Obama called bin Laden’s death “the most significant achievement to date in our nation’s effort to defeat al Qaeda.”
Despite making it onto the FBI’s “most wanted” list after attacks on the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in August 1998, bin Laden remained nothing more than “just another terrorist” in the eyes of many.
Until September 11, 2001.
The events of 9/11 triggered the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, and led to a military manhunt for bin Laden, who continued to taunt the West by releasing a steady stream of audio and video tapes warning of more attacks.
Following the announcement of bin Laden’s death, US diplomatic facilities around the world have been placed on high alert and the US State Department has issued a worldwide travel alert for Americans, warning of potential retaliation by al Qaeda supporters against US citizens.
UK Foreign Secretary William Hague has also ordered a security review for UK embassies around the world, and UK nationals have been warned to exercise caution in public places and avoid large crowds and public events.
Meanwhile, a US official told CNN that bin Laden has already been buried at sea, and his body was handled in the Islamic tradition.
Judging by the top trend on Twitter today, while the announcement of Osama bin Laden’s death is welcome, the rather hasty disposal of the body has raised more than a few suspicions that the US may or may not have got their man.
Watch out for the deluge of conspiracy theories …