President Obama: Osama bin Laden, Mastermind of 9/11 Terror Attacks, is Dead

Nearly 10 years after the Sept. 11 attacks, President Barack Obama announced Sunday night that Osama bin Laden has been killed.
 
In a nationally televised speech, Obama said he authorized an operation last week "to get Osama bin Laden and bring him to justice."
 
He said the U.S. launched a targeted operation in Pakistan on Sunday. "After a firefight, they killed Osama bin Laden and took custody of his body," the president said. No Americans were harmed.

The news prompted jubilant Americans to gather outside the White House and in New York City, according to media reports.

Following the news of bin Laden's death, the State Department issued a travel warning for U.S. citizens in the world, POLITICO.com reported.

"Given the uncertainty and volatility of the current situation, U.S. citizens in areas where recent events could cause anti-American violence are strongly urged to limit their travel outside of their homes and hotels and avoid mass gatherings and demonstrations," according to the advisory quoted by POLITICO.com.

U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert, R-Mercer Island, thanked the men and women in the military for their efforts in fighting terrorists. 

"Tonight we learned that Osama bin Laden has been killed by U.S. troops in Pakistan. This event is a milestone in a decade-long global war on terror," he said in a statement.

"Thanks to the bravery and courage of our military men and women, Osama bin Laden will no longer be able to encourage violence and do harm to those whose only supposed crime is valuing freedom. Justice was served and the world is a safer place without this monster. Again, I thank our military and intelligence personnel for their service and sacrifice. This would not have been possible without their diligence and commitment to this essential mission."

U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., called the news a "great moment." 

"The President's announcement tonight is tremendous news for all Americans and for counterterrorism efforts worldwide. The superb work of our military and intelligence communities have led to the death of the mastermind of the worst attack in our nation's history," she said in a statement.

"I applaud our troops, intelligence operatives, and the Administration for never wavering in this important goal in the broader war on terrorism. 

"This is a particularly important day for the thousands of Americans who lost a family member, friend or loved one nearly ten years ago. And all of our thanks go to those who have been lost in our military efforts and to our veterans and their families.  

"This is indeed a significant moment and one that will continue to propel our efforts to root out terrorists wherever they reside.  We must continue to remain vigilant and focused on the protection of the American people."

Former President George W. Bush, who was in office on the day of the attacks, issued a written statement hailing bin Laden's death. "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.

The terrorists hijacked four planes and flew one of them into one of Manhattan's Twin Towers. Moments later, a second plane slammed into into the other one. Both buildings collapsed, trapping thousands inside and claiming the lives of firefighters and others who had rushed to help them.

A third plane hit the Pentagon, defacing the symbol of America's military night. A fourth crashed in rural Pennsylvania after passengers overpowered the hijackers and forced the craft from the air, before it could hit its intended target in Washington.

The attacks set off a chain of events that led the United States into wars in Afghanistan, and then Iraq, and America's entire intelligence apparatus was overhauled to counter the threat of more terror attacks at home.

According to information from Joint Base Lewis McChord near Tacoma, these campaigns resulted in significant casualties among Washington residents.

They included the following:

• Operation Enduring Freedom - launched post 9/11: 37 killed, 224 wounded in action.
• Operation Iraqi Freedom - began 3/19/2003: 88 killed, 874 wounded in action.
• Operation new dawn - 9/1/2010: 1 killed, 1 wounded.

According to the Associated Press, senior administration officials say Obama gave the final order for U.S. officials to go after bin Laden on Friday. The official added that a small team found their quarry hiding in a large home in an affluent suburb of Islamabad. The raid occurred in the early morning hours Sunday.

Administration officials offered some details of the operation.

Based on statements given by U.S. detainees, intelligence officials have known for years that bin Laden trusted one al-Qaida courier in particular and they believed he might be living with him in hiding. In November, intelligence officials found out where he was living, a huge fortified compound in an affluent suburb of Islamabad. It was surrounded by walls as high as 18 feet high, topped with barbed wire. There were two security gates and no phone or Internet running into the house.

Intelligence officials believed the $1 million home was custom-built to harbor a major terrorist. CIA experts analyzed whether it could be anyone else, but time and again, they decided it was almost certainly bin Laden.

Three adult males were also killed in Sunday's raid, including one of bin Laden's sons, whom officials did not name. One of bin Laden's sons, Hamza, is a senior member of al-Qaida.

Roughly 1,000 troops from Joint Base Lewis-McChord are currently deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, said base spokesman Joseph Piek.

In the Seattle area, Todd Beamer High School in Federal Way was named after one of the 9/11 victims. Beamer was a passenger aboard United Airlines Flight 93 who stood up to the terrorists aboard the plane before it crashed.

The Huffington Post has coverage of this news event. The White House has posted the full remarks from President Obama about the death of Osama bin Laden.

Sammamish Patch Editor Brad Wong contributed to this report.