Bin Laden death anniversary approaches
- 12 years ago
(SOUNDBITE) (English) UNITED STATES PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA, SAYING:
"After a firefight, they killed Osama bin Laden and took custody of his body."
On Wednesday, it will be one year since U.S. President Barack Obama announced that a team of Navy Seals stormed this compound in central Pakistan - and killed the mastermind of the 9/11 attack.
That prompted wild celebrations in America and condemnation in Pakistan - which was not told of the strike.
Today, this is all that remains of Bin Laden's compound, located not far from an army base in the town of Abbottabad.
It was demolished by the Pakistani military, which was deeply embarassed by the episode, although officials say Bin Laden's presence here was a security lapse, not deliberate collusion.
Life here has returned to normal, but some people still can't believe they were living beside the world's most wanted man.
(SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) JAWAD NAWAZ, UNIVERSITY STUDENT, WHO LIVES NEAR OSAMA COMPOUND, SAYING:
"It was a dreadful night when the U.S helicopters flew in here. The next day we knew that the world's most wanted man Osama bin laden was found here. This is a very safe area with Pakistan military present here. It was a ghastly experience which still haunts us."
Meanwhile, many people here are still upset with the U.S. for launching the strike on Abbottabad without telling the Pakistani government - a move that has cast a pall over relations between the two long-time allies.
Andrew Raven, Reuters
"After a firefight, they killed Osama bin Laden and took custody of his body."
On Wednesday, it will be one year since U.S. President Barack Obama announced that a team of Navy Seals stormed this compound in central Pakistan - and killed the mastermind of the 9/11 attack.
That prompted wild celebrations in America and condemnation in Pakistan - which was not told of the strike.
Today, this is all that remains of Bin Laden's compound, located not far from an army base in the town of Abbottabad.
It was demolished by the Pakistani military, which was deeply embarassed by the episode, although officials say Bin Laden's presence here was a security lapse, not deliberate collusion.
Life here has returned to normal, but some people still can't believe they were living beside the world's most wanted man.
(SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) JAWAD NAWAZ, UNIVERSITY STUDENT, WHO LIVES NEAR OSAMA COMPOUND, SAYING:
"It was a dreadful night when the U.S helicopters flew in here. The next day we knew that the world's most wanted man Osama bin laden was found here. This is a very safe area with Pakistan military present here. It was a ghastly experience which still haunts us."
Meanwhile, many people here are still upset with the U.S. for launching the strike on Abbottabad without telling the Pakistani government - a move that has cast a pall over relations between the two long-time allies.
Andrew Raven, Reuters