Al Qaeda Leader Osama Bin Laden Killed

Osama bin Laden

Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden has been killed in an American-led operation in Pakistan, US President Barack Obama has announced. In the latest pictures from Abbotabad, a town just 60 miles from the Pakistani capital Islamabad, flames are seen rising from a building that was the apparent target of the raid.It is thought Bin Laden had been living in a $1m villa in Abbotabad.
He was reportedly asked to surrender by US forces before he was shot.Pakistani television stations have broadcast what they say is a confirmed photograph of the bloodied face of the world's most wanted man after he was killed.In the last few minutes, David Cameron has been speaking from Downing Street, saying the news would be welcomed across the country.It is, I believe, a massive step forward," he said.Earlier, President Obama confirmed in a news conference: "I can report to the American people and to the world, that the US has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden."The US president said he was briefed about a possible lead to the whereabouts of the the world's most wanted man and mastermind of the September 11 attacks in August and last week appproved an operation "to bring Bin Laden to justice"."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," President Obama said.The body of Bin Laden - who fled the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 - was recovered by US officials from the compound in Abbottabad, northwest of Pakistan, where he had been hiding.President Obama said: "After a firefight they killed Osama Bin Laden and took custody of his body."A US official told reporters that the corpse was being handled in accordance with Islamic customs.