President Barack Obama announced the news to the nation in a televised Sunday evening address that came with little explanation beforehand regarding the topic.
“Tonight 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,” Obama said at the beginning of the nine-and-a-half-minute speech.
Bin Laden, 54, was the self-proclaimed mastermind of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Thousands of Americans were killed when hijacked planes crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, DC. A fourth plane crashed in Pennsylvania, killing an estimated 40 people.
He also was implicated in a series of attacks in Africa in the 1990s that killed hundreds of people and injured thousands more, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The president said that not long after taking office he directed Central Intelligence Agency Director Leon Panetta to make capturing or killing bin Laden a priority.
Last August Obama was briefed on a possible lead to bin Laden's whereabouts.
“It was far from certain, and it took many months to run this thread to ground,” he said.
But last week Obama determined there was enough evidence to take action, and the raid on the compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, was carried out on Sunday at Obama's direction by a small group of Americans.
Obama said the group executed the raid “with extraordinary courage and capability,” killing bin Laden after a firefight and taking his body into custody.
The president said none of the American forces were harmed and they avoided civilian casualties.
Congressman Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena), a senior member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, said Sunday, “The impact of bin Laden's death cannot be overstated.”
Thompson added, “For over two decades, bin Laden and his terrorist network have brought death and destruction to communities around the world. This is a defining moment in our nation's history and, I hope, a turning point in the ongoing war on terrorism.”
He thanked the intelligence community and the Armed Forces for their hard work bringing bin Laden to justice. “While our fight against terror is far from over, I am hopeful that Bin Laden's death will bring us one step closer to peace."
Gov. Jerry Brown also said Sunday that Americans can be grateful that the president brought bin Laden to justice.
“Our friends as well as our adversaries throughout the world can be assured of America's resolve in combating terrorism and protecting the values of democracy and freedom,” Brown said.
U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) added her praise for the president and Armed Forces, saying of bin Laden, “Today the world knows that he has paid the ultimate price for what he did.”
She added, “His death doesn’t lessen the tragic loss of all those killed by al Qaeda, or the pain of their loved ones, but it closes a chapter on his unspeakable act.”
Also on Sunday, the U.S. Department of State alerted U.S. citizens traveling and residing abroad “to the enhanced potential for anti-American violence given recent counter-terrorism activity in Pakistan.”
The agency said the travel alert will expire on Aug. 1.
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