* YOU BEEN SNAP * Revealed: Dramatic details of the moment Bin Laden was gunned down in his $1m Pakistan lair by a crack team of U.S. special forces"

*BY FLORA LYIMO DESIGNER* 

• Obama watched assault on compound housing bin Laden in real time
• Terror chief blasted in head after refusing offer to surrender
• Three adults including Bin Laden's 'son' reportedly killed in raid
• Compound was yards from Pakistan's 'Sandhurst' military academy
• Body buried at sea after Saudi Arabia 'declines to take corpse'
• DNA tests 99.9 per cent certain man killed WAS Bin Laden
• U.S. embassies on alert over Al Qaeda reprisal attacks
• Barack Obama declares 'Justice has been done'
• David Cameron says death is 'massive step forward'

Dramatic details emerged today of how Osama bin Laden was shot dead by a crack team of U.S. special forces.
It was revealed that the world’s most wanted man was shot in the left eye after he refused to surrender to a team of U.S. Navy Seals when they landed in his Pakistan compound last night.
The killing of the terror chief, which today reverberated around the globe, followed an eight-month information gathering operation but the entire raid took just 40 minutes.

Pit of evil: A king size bed where Bin Laden may have once slept at the secretive compound in Abbottabad. Blood from a gun battle can be seen at the foot of the mattress

Gun fight: A pool of blood on the floor suggests that one Al Qaeda member was shot close to their bed, while right, a wardrobe pulled open by U.S troops to ensure that none of Bin Laden's clan were hiding in the room

Carnage: Blood can be seen on the floor from where Osama was reportedly surrounded by three men, including his son, and a woman who formed a human shield against U.S. troops

U.S. military officials revealed bin Laden was shot in the left eye in a firefight as he tried to evade capture.
Three of his men were also killed along with a woman they tried to use as a human shield, and one of bin Laden's eleven sons was said to be among the dead. No Americans were hurt in the mission.
President Obama was able to monitor the assault on the compound housing bin Laden in real time  with 'audio and visual' coverage in the Situation Room, U.S. officials said.
When the team on the ground reported they had killed him at around 3:55pm Eastern Time on Sunday, applause was said to have broken out.
The 54-year-old Al Qaeda leader was held at gunpoint and shot after a raid on a mansion near the Pakistani capital Islamabad, ending a long worldwide hunt for the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks.

Dead: Osama Bin Laden was killed in a U.S. special forces operation on his Pakistani compound

The revelations come as Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton today sent defiant messages to terrorist leaders hours after the U.S. hit squad took out the mass murderer.
Amid CIA warnings of reprisals, the U.S. Secretary of State vowed to 'take the fight' to Al Qaeda and the Taliban while Mr Obama said the world was now a 'safer place'.
The worldwide reaction came as the first pictures emerged of the blood-splattered scene of the gunfight inside the sprawling complex where the terror chief slept.

An official, who discussed the matter on condition of anonymity, declined to specify the methods of identification, but two Obama administration officials said DNA evidence confirmed the death.

The officials claimed the DNA evidence provides a match with 99.9% confidence.

The US is believed to have collected DNA samples from bin Laden family members, including his sister, in the years since 9/11.

It was unclear whether the U.S. also had fingerprints or some other means to identify the body on site.

U.S. officials have said that Bin Laden's body has already been buried at sea in order to prevent the grave from becoming a shrine for extremists.

The mission was revealed in a dramatic statement late last night when President Obama said the U.S. military had recovered Bin Laden's body and confirmed to the world he had finally been killed.

‘Tonight I can report to the American people and the world that the United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama Bin Laden, the leader of Al Qaeda and a terrorist who is responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent men, women and children,’ he said. ‘Justice has been done’.

Today, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned the Taliban 'you cannot wait us out' in Afghanistan, urging the insurgents to break with Al Qaeda and enter a peaceful political process.

'Our message to the Taliban remains the same, but today, it may have even greater resonance,' Clinton said. 'You cannot wait us out. You cannot defeat us. But you can make the choice to abandon Al Qaeda and participate in a peaceful political process.'

Within minutes of the news breaking, Americans began gathering outside the White House to sing the national anthem and chant: ‘USA! USA!'

White House Counter Terrorism Chief John Brennan said today that the woman bin Laden used as a shield from U.S. troops was one of his wives.

Mr Brennan called the operation a 'defining moment' in the war against terror where the U.S. had 'decapitated the head of the snake'.

He described the operation as 'one of the most anxiety-filled times' and 'minutes passed like days', adding that President Obama reacted to learning of bin Laden's death by saying: 'We got him'.

Bin Laden's lair: The compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, was half a mile from a military academy. If it had been hit in an air strike there would likely have been civilian casualties

Defiant messages: President Obama said the world is a 'safer place', Secretary of State Hillary Clinton vowed to 'take the fight' to Al Qaeda and Counter Terrorism Chief John Brennan said it was a 'defining moment'

Shares in New York fell back today after recording early gains, with the Nasdaq and Dow Jones hardly changed at 2pm local time.

Analysts said although bin Laden's death could reduce security risks and raise U.S. consumer sentiment, it will do little to help longer-term risks hanging over global economies.

In a spontaneous outpouring of emotion, thousands started cheering and clapping and waving American flags to show their support.

Large groups of Americans still hurting from the 9/11 attacks also gathered at 'ground zero' in New York to celebrate the news.

Paul Lagrandier, a retired New York firefighter who was part of the rescue for September 11 said he felt mixed emotions.
He told MailOnline: 'I'm saddened for the people who were affected by the tragedy and have to go through all this again.'

Deserted: Nestled among trees and in the shadow of Pakistan's mountains, Bin Laden's hideaway stands empty today after a helicopter raid by U.S. troops that killed the terror chief yesterday

Enlarge  

Lair: A large sheet covers the U.S. helicopter that crashed in the grounds of the compound where Bin Laden lived with his youngest wife and his trusted aides

Clean up: The remains of the U.S. helicopter that crashed during the mission are driven away on a tractor through Abbottabad today

When asked what he thought about why it took so long to track down the terrorist, he said: 'I just knew we were working at it and we kept working at it. They stayed the course and accomplished the mission.'

Useful information: 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed provided the nom de guerre of one of bin Laden's most trusted aides

But the terror chief's death will undoubtedly put the Middle East on high alert for reprisal attacks. It will also lead to urgent demands from Washington as to how the most wanted man was allowed to seek refuge in a supposedly allied country as Pakistan.
Officials say CIA interrogators in secret overseas prisons developed the first strands of information that ultimately led to the killing of bin Laden.
9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed provided the nom de guerre of one of bin Laden's most trusted aides. The CIA got similar information from Mohammed's successor, Abu Faraj al-Libi.
Both were subjected to harsh interrogation tactics inside CIA prisons in Poland and Romania.
Former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney defended waterboarding in 2008 after it was authorised for use on Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two other accused Al Qaeda members during 2002 and 2003.
U.S. military sources revealed tonight that Bin Laden had been taken by surprise by the attack by a small team of U.S. Navy Seals who landed in the grounds of the compound under the cover of nightfall.
He had been living at the luxury home with his youngest wife Amal al-Sadah.

Near miss: One of the U.S. helicopters crashed over a wall within the compound after coming under heavy fire from rocket propelled grenades. However, all special forces troops escaped safely

Guarded: Pakistani soldiers today patrol the compound where Bin Laden lived and was last night killed, and right, police stop people as they secure the scene 

The facility, surrounded by high walls and barbed wire, is in a suburban part of Pakistan, although it is unclear if the country's officials or local residents knew that Bin Laden lived there.

Details of his residence - in a major hub for tourists visiting the region - will cast new questions over Britain's relationship with Pakistan. British aid to the country was last year doubled to £60m. 

During an operation in which troops were on the ground for just 40 minutes, they stormed the terror chief's hideaway.

Secure: This CIA image shows Bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad and the measures he took including security walls up to 18ft high in places and opaque windows

Hideout: The Bin Laden compound was found only a few hundred yards from the military academy known as Pakistan's Sandhurst in the garrison town of Abbottabad, Pakistan

Four helicopters took part in the attack on the two-storey house, which is understood to be within 100 yards of a military building in Abbottabad, a garrison town which is home to thousands of Pakistani troops.

According to Pakistani officials in the town, fighters on the roof opened fire with rocket propelled grenades as the aircraft came close to the building. Pakistani officials and local people said one of the helicopters crashed.

In a dramatic finale, it is said that Bin Laden was offered the chance to surrender. But the leader, who had always said he would not be captured alive, refused and was blasted in the eye by special forces.

Abbattobad: The remote town in northern Pakistan, named after James Abbott, the British major who founded the town in 1853, sits beneath towering hills

Three of the terror leader's men, including a man believed to be his own son, were also killed in the raid alongside a woman. They reportedly tried to act as a human shield in a furious firefight.

U.S troops returned to the damaged helicopter, but they were forced to carry Bin Laden's body to a working aircraft.

A picture purporting to be the terror leader was shown on Pakistani TV this morning but it was later proved to be a fake as the beard and hair were noticably darker than in previous videos of him.
In his televised statement Mr Obama said that Bin Laden was killed in a helicopter raid by a small group of Navy Seals who stormed his mansion in an affluent area 80 miles from Islamabad.

The announcement: Barack Obama makes a special address from the White House that confirmed that Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden had been shot dead by Navy Seals

They were working on a tip which first surfaced last August after ‘years of painstaking work’ from the CIA and had taken months to run it into the ground.

‘Last week I determined that we had enough intelligence to take action and authorised an operation to get Osama Bin Laden and bring him to justice,’ Mr Obama said.
'Today at my direction the U.S. launched a targeted operation against that compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. After a firefight they killed Osama Bin Laden and took custody of his body.’
Experts said that by taking out the wanted man, American special forces had cut off the 'head of the snake'.
But U.S. military posts around the world had been put on alert in case of retaliation attacks by Islamic radicals.

They day they had waited for: Dionne Layne, facing camera, hugs Mary Power in the shadow of the Freedom Tower in New York as they react to the news of the death of Osama bin Laden

Mixed emotions: Grief etched into his face, a father among cheering crowds outside the White House clutches the pictures of his son killed on 9/11, while right, two supporters pain their faces with the colours of the USA

Peace: A woman makes a sign for peace as she celebrates among the crowds who chanted 'USA, USA' outside the White House shortly after Obama made the announcement

Justice: For these New Yorkers the memory of the atrocity committed on 9/11 still real, but there was a glimmer of hope today as they converged on the site of the World Trade Centre

The State Department warned of the heightened possibility for anti-American violence after the news of Bin Laden's death.

The department issued a worldwide travel alert shortly after Mr Obama's announcement. They warned of an 'enhanced potential for anti-American violence given recent counter-terrorism activity in Pakistan'.

It continued: '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.'

CIA Director Leon Panetta said Al Qaeda would 'almost certainly' try to avenge Bin Laden's death.

'Though Bin Laden is dead, Al Qaeda is not. The terrorists almost certainly will attempt to avenge him, and we must - and will - remain vigilant and resolute,' Panetta said.

Confirmed kill: The FBI changed their most wanted terrorists site to show that Bin Laden is now 'deceased'

Attacked: A picture claiming to show Bin Laden's bloodied face was played on Pakistani TV although claims later emerged that the image had been faked

The alert said U.S. embassy operations would continue 'to the extent possible under the constraints of any evolving security situation'.

It noted that embassies and consulates may temporarily close or suspend public services, depending on conditions.

Mr Obama said that for more two decades Bin Laden has been Al Qaeda’s ‘leader and symbol’ who has continued to plot attacks against America the West.

‘His demise should be welcomed by all who believe in peace and human dignity,’ he said.

‘On nights like this one we can say to those family’s who have lost loved ones to Al Qaeda: Justice has been done’.

News of Bin Laden's death was welcomed today by political leaders around the world. Prime Minister David Cameron said that the move was ' a massive step forward' while Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was a 'triumph for justice'.

In a televised statement later at Chequers, Mr Cameron said: 'This news will be welcomed right across our country.

'Of course, it does not mark the end of the threat we face from extremist terrorism. Indeed, we will have to be particularly vigilant in the weeks ahead. But it is, I believe, a massive step forward.

A decade of hurt: The powerful headlines in the New York Post and the New York Daily News reflected the public anger towards Bin Laden

World news: How The Wall Street Journal and USA Today reported the death of Bin Laden

'Osama Bin Laden was responsible for the death of thousands of innocent men, women and children right across the world - people of every race and religion.

'He was also responsible for ordering the death of many, many British citizens, both here and in other parts of the world.

'I would like to congratulate the US forces who carried out this brave action. I would like to thank President Obama for ordering this action.

'And I think it is a moment when too we should thank all of those who work day and night, often with no recognition, to keep us safe from the threat of terror.

'But above all today, we should think of the victims of the poisonous extremism that this man has been responsible for.

'Of course, nothing will bring back those loved ones that families have lost to terror. But at least they know the man who was responsible for these appalling acts is no more.'

Foreign Secretary William Hague told the BBC: 'I believe it was the right thing for the US to do and I think we should be relieved that Osama Bin Laden's terror - his own personal role in that terror - is now at an end.'

France's President Nicolas Sarkozy hailed the killing as a coup in the fight against terrorism, but he too warned it did not spell al Qaeda's demise.

Welcoming Bin Laden's death, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: 'This is a resounding triumph for justice, freedom and the values shared by all democratic nations fighting shoulder to shoulder in determination against terrorism.'

September 11: Bin Laden became a byword for terrorism around the world after he ordered the destruction of the World Trade Center towers in 2001

Intelligence sources said that Bin Laden had been hiding out in the $1million mansion which had ‘extraordinary’ security measures including 12ft-18ft walls surrounding it.

RISE OF THE FACE OF TERROR

Osama Bin Laden was born in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the 17^th child of 52 children sired by one of the richest men in the country.

Osama’s father Muhammad died when he was 11 years old, and he grew up with his mother, stepfather and their three other children.

He studied at the elite Al Thagher Model School in Jedda, where the teachers were members of the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist political group begun in Egypt that at the time promoted violent means to achieve Islamic governance.

Bin Laden went on to study civil engineering in Jedda, graduating in 1979. When the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in December of that year, Bin Laden left to join the Afghan resistance, the mujahideen.

He fought in Afghanistan for six years, rising to the rank of a guerrilla commander by 1986. In 1988, heavily influenced by the writings of Sayyid Qutb and the teachings of Ayman al Zawahiri, he formed Al Qaeda.

Al Qaeda – Arab for ‘the base’ – was a group of ex-mujahideen funnelling money and fighters back to the resistance. Using his family’s fortune, Bin Laden developed Al Qaeda into a militant trans-national network.

He returned to Saudi Arabia but was soon exiled to the Sudan for his opposition against the American-allied monarchy.

Throughout the 1990s he launched a series of attacks on U.S. interests, including the 1998 bombings of two U.S. embassies in Africa in 1998 and the attack on the USS Cole in 2000.

Then came September 11.

After the attacks on America, Bin Laden went into hiding. He has been hunted by the U.S. as the world’s most wanted terrorist ever since.

It was eight times larger than the surrounding homes, it was regularly serviced by couriers and residents"