Al-Qaeda mastermind Osama bin Laden has been killed in a daring raid by US covert forces in Pakistan, and President Barack Obama declared "justice has been done" a decade after the September 11 attacks.
Dutch reactions
Bin Laden's death is "an important blow" to the al-Qaeda terror network, the Netherlands' Prime Minister Mark Rutte said. "Osama bin-Laden was responsible for some terrible acts." Mr Rutte complimented US President Obama and the troops which carried out the operation in Pakistan, but "the fight against terror isn't over yet".
Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal applauded the apparent co-operation of Pakistan in the anti-terror operation. "That is a good sign. Pakistan is one of the most important countries in the world and has an important role in the region," he told NOS public radio.
Opposition leader Job Cohen (Labour) said, "It's good that the symbol of international terrorism has been torn down. It won't immediately help improve security in the world, but I hope that in the long run it will."
Opposition MP Jolande Sap, whose Green Left party was crucial for the approval of a new Dutch police mission to Afghanistan, said, "It is a pity that Bin Laden will never be put on trial to account for his deeds. Now it's time for the next step: close Guantanamo Bay. Let's fight fundamentalist hatred by applying true justice."
Authorities in the Dutch government seat of The Hague have visibly scaled up security around the US embassy, although according to a police spokesperson there is no imminent threat. No details were given about the nature of the security measures.
The death of the reviled US enemy, after a huge manhunt, sparked an explosion of joy across the United States, especially in New York and Washington, the targets of the worst-ever attack against the US mainland in 2001.
Courage
Bin Laden's demise also marked the biggest triumph yet in the 10-year war against terrorism, which has led the United States into two bloody wars, transformed its foreign policy and reshaped many aspects of American life.
"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," President Obama said in a dramatic late night address.
The US president said he had directed helicopter-borne US armed forces to launch an attack against a heavily fortified compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan on Sunday acting on a lead that first emerged last August.
"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.
"After a firefight, they killed Osama bin Laden and took custody of his body."
"Justice has been done," he added.
Walled compound
Senior US officials said that in addition to bin Laden, three adult males died in the raid, two who were believed to be couriers for the Al-Qaeda leader, and one who was said to be one of his adult sons.
One woman who was being used as a human shield was also killed, the officials said.
American forces lost a helicopter in the operation due to "mechanical failure" and the chopper was destroyed by the Americans, the official said.
Other US officials said they were stunned when intelligence reports first revealed the elaborate security at the compound where bin Laden was hiding, with 12-18 foot (four-to-six meter) high walls topped with barbed wire.
A key to the operation was a long-running effort by American spy agencies to track a trusted courier for bin Laden, another senior US official said.
Bush congratulates Obama
The operation will also likely go down as one of the most spectacular intelligence operations in US history, and provide a huge morale boost for the oft-criticised US clandestine community.
It marks a rare moment of national celebration, after grim years of war abroad and as America only slowly emerge from the worst recession in decades.
The huge coup may also enhance perceptions of President Obama's leadership and help turn around his political fortunes a year ahead of his reelection bid.
Former US president George W. Bush, who was in office at the time of the September 11 attacks when almost 3,000 people died, said bin Laden's death was a "momentous" event and congratulated President Obama and US intelligence and military forces.
"This momentous achievement marks a victory for America, for people who seek peace around the world, and for all those who lost loved ones on September 11, 2001," he said in a statement.
"The fight against terror goes on, but tonight America has sent an unmistakable message: No matter how long it takes, justice will be done."
Outside the White House, thousands gathered outside the gates of the White House, cheering, waving US flags and shouting "USA, USA."
Another large crowd gathered at the "Ground Zero" epicenter of the World Trade Center attack, singing "God Bless America."
Tourists and New Yorkers also descended on Times Square.
"It's a miracle," said New Yorker Monica King, 22. "The attacks changed New York and now 10 years later we had our last word," she added, saying: "Now we want to celebrate."
Gary Talafuse, visiting from Texas, said Americans "feel a lot of national pride."
"This may not change anything in Al-Qaeda tactics, but after billions of dollars invested, this is a big loss for Al-Qaeda, and that brings some degree of reward to our efforts," said the 32-year-old.
Pakistan's co-operation
Obama said he had called Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari after bin Laden's death and said co-operation with the uneasy US anti-terror ally had helped lead American forces to the terror chief.
US armed forces have been hunting the Saudi terror kingpin for years, an effort that was redoubled after Al-Qaeda terrorists riding hijacked airliners smashed into the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon.
A fourth passenger jet crashed in a remote area of Pennsylvania, apparently brought down after passengers revolted and tried to prevent it from reaching its target, assumed to be Washington.
Until Sunday, bin Laden had always managed to evade US armed forces and a massive manhunt, and was most often thought to be hiding out in the unruly Pakistan and Afghanistan border areas.
The death of bin Laden will raise huge questions about the future of Al-Qaeda and also have deep implications for US security and foreign policy 10 years into a global anti-terror campaign
Read Dheera Sujan's blog on this story here.
© AFP/RNW/Video courtesy of www.whitehouse.gov
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Jw, freedom of speech remember? What the majority of radical terrorists do to the Jewish people in precious Israel and to other innocent people around this world, I have no problem with bombing the hell out of a country who protects terrorists and allows them to train in terrorist camps on their soil and to migrate to other countries to do harm to innocent people. As a matter of fact, I think it is time to start using Nukes to be rid of the evil that has infected this earth like a virus once and for all!
JW, my opinions and thoughts is simply that, my expression of freedom of speech. Realistically, I doubt USA-NATO will use Nukes unless of course terrorists got ahold of them and used them first. When all you hear or read in the news is one terrorist act after another by none other then a Muslim radical 98% of the time on a daily basis, you begin to dislike those countries who do little to stop it. USA and Nato has my full respect for getting rid of a small part of the virus. I hope that they can continue to get rid of the rest of the virus to make this world a safer place to live in.
I remember freedom of speech. It means that when someone acts nutty, we can call them on it. When people plan attacks on urban centres we can call them terrorists. When people promote the use of nuclear weapons to weed out some bad apples, we're allowed to call them crazy. When people suggest that, because of the actions of a few, all those in a certain country deserve to die, we are free to call them ignorant and hateful.
I'll concede that you're probably not a terrorist. That is all.
"I remember freedom of speech."...It means when someone acts nutty and wants to ban others for their speech, we can call them on it. You are the one of those who would ban others for speaking and you want to call someone nutty. JW, are "we" free to call you ignorant and hateful? Your post shows you are both and it is because you do not promote free speech unless it is you who spouts hate. Your post showed how hateful and ignorant people react to the opinions of others. She has a right to free speech and her opinions are important. It shows she is an individual.
Well .. like many people say .. America killed their own toy ;)
I don´t have any sympathy for any country who hides terrorists and promotes terrorism on the one hand and then lies to the world that Bin laden was not in their country when most of Pakistan knew full well he was in open sight living in a lap of luxury. I think the radicals that live in Pakistan does quite a job killing their own civilians by using them as human shields like the cowards they are, the way they kill their own shows enough that the radical way they worship Islam, also evidence of terrorists camps in that country should alsarm the entire world that the entire country should be blocked off from the rest of the world until every last terrorist in that country is destroyed. It would send a strong message to the rest of the world that those who think they kill innocent people in the name of Allah will be meeting their seven virgins in hell, and I hope it is all big fat ugly male virgins no females, that gives it to them up the arse with fire most painfully for eternity!!!
Your logic would suggest that if you or one of your neighbours is found to be a terrorist, your whole neighbourhood should be bombed. That's as crazy as Bin Laden was. Your fantasy rape scenario doesn't exactly help your case.
JW, be nice, okay? SandraV is just expressing her opinion of a person who was responsible for her opinion. The terrorism he supported and spread throughout the world caused her response. As to Bin Laden being "crazy", I doubt that very much. He, too, responded as he did because of his perceptions of injustices towards his belief system. Maybe that is why we have so many problems and conflicts in the world. Conflicts arise when cultures collide. The UK is a perfect example where the cultures are causing conflict. I wonder what the future holds for the UK? Again, be nice, okay. You can be a grouch, sometimes.
Bin ladens mansion was built in an area of retired Pakistan military forces. This also proves that Pakistan who has long denied that Bin Laden was in their country are nothing but filthy liars and they have been hiding Bin Laden all along. So I think it is time for Nato to take out the entire military forces in Pakistan and bomb every single inch of that land that harbors terrorists.
Bomb the whole region? To hell with civilians? That's just as psychotic an idea as those that Al Qaeda promotes. Such an action might be more damaging to regional stability than all the combined errors in the Middle East so far.
"Bomb the whole region? To hell with civilians?"...That is exactly what Hamas does to Israel. They say "to hell with civilians". JW, my friend, is okay to fire rockets into civilian populations? Does such actions cause damage to the regional stability? Who cares about the causes prior to the rocket atacks on civilian populations? Is it really justified? JW, I agree with you but sometimes civilian populations are affected by the psychotic behaviours of their leaders. The leaders of Hamas, Syria, Libya, Iran, inflict suffering on their citizens by murdering them or by attacking other countries and then using them as shields. Finally, we are just as guilty because we turn our heads in order to get their oil and other resources. Be nice. She might be right.
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