Multiple outlets reporting some or all of these details (links when I get them, pulling together from TV reports):
U.S. Joint Special Operations Command Special Mission Unit (SMU) from the United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU — formerly known as Seal Team Six) did the shooting. There were other JSOC spotters on the ground, as well as two special operations helicopters and an unmanned drone overhead.
One of the special-ops helicopters reportedly suffered mechanical difficulties and crash landed onsite. It was destroyed by U.S. forces.
Bin Laden was killed along with two al Qaeda couriers and one of Bin Laden’s adult sons. A woman who was used as a human shield by one of the couriers was also reportedly killed. Several other women were wounded and are reportedly receiving treatment.
The compound was located in an affluent suburb 35 kilometers north of Islamabad and is being described as huge, with a central building many times larger than other houses in the area and ringed by a 12-15-foot tall security wall. The compound reportedly had no incoming or outgoing electronic communications.
UPDATE: The compound has already been mapped on Google. It’s just north of a children’s hospital and in spitting distance from the police station.
UPDATE: Confirmation of a lot of these details. And this:
The operation had been in the works for years. Since 9/11, the CIA gathered leads on those in bin Laden’s inner circle, including personal couriers. During interrogations and questioning, various detainees flagged individuals who may have been providing support to OBL and Zawahiri. One courier in particularly was identified by detainees as one of the few al Qaeda couriers who had bin Laden’s trust. He was identified as a “protégé” of Khalid Sheikh Mohammad and a trusted assistant of Abu Faraj al –Libbi, the former #3 of al Qaeda, who was captured in 2005. There were even indications the courier may have been living with bin Laden.
In 2007, intelligence officers discovered his identity. In 2009, intelligence officials identified areas in Pakistan where the courier and his brother operate – but they were still unable to pinpoint precisely where.
In August 2010 came a big break. Intelligence identified a compound that aroused their suspicion – eight times larger than other homes in the area, built in 2005, on a property valued at $1 million. But access to the compound was severely restricted, with elaborate security and 12 to 18 foot walls topped with barbed wire. Incongruently, the compound has no phone service or televisions. The main building had few windows and a seven foot wall for privacy. Residents burned their trash.
Intelligence officials concluded that unit was “custom built” to hide someone. A third family was identified as living there – and the size and makeup matched the bin Laden family members most likely with him. The location and design of compound were consistent with what experts expected his hideout might look like. Their final conculsion: there was a strong probability that this was bin Laden’s hideout.
LIIIIINK!!!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseOr at least credit. Jeeze.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSo WHEN did this happen?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSeal Team Six - when you care enough to send the very best....
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAl Jazeera has video of the operation. Why don't we?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI'm watching Al Jazeera right now. Much as I hate to admit it, their coverage is light years more informative than any of the US networks. Ours is just "hey look, a crowd in front of the Pentagon!" and more replaying of BHO's speech. AJ's is loaded with operational details, interviews with locals, regional politics analysis, etc.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseA couple of blocks away from a police station and residing in a tourist or 'touristy' location. Anyone want to bet he used to take strolls to the local market to buy dates and figs, with police protection?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI notice the google map has a section for writing a review of Bin Laden's Compound,
That is just begging for satire and I can't think of a good review to write up. Help me out here.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseDon't put too much in the location of that compound. If you enter Abbottabad, Pakistan in googlemaps, that is the place it takes you. That location appears to be the default center of the town. Try it yourself and you'll see.
External Link
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWell, Richard, for starters the security sucks. People are getting killed in the compound. On the positive side of things, you can live as anonymously as you'd like behind 12-15 foot walls and keep as many women behind them as you'd like. You just never know when you have to duck behind one to use as a human shield.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse10+ years of reading about the depravity of UBL and his fellow dirtbags, and still I'm shocked that they had women on hand to use as human shields.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYou can run but you'll only die tired
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIf you look on the close-up google map, just to the west of OBL's compound it shows "St. Peter's".
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseGood!
He didn't have far to travel before being rejected and sent to his ultimate destination.... 8-p
Abbottabad? Is that near Costelloabad?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWE never forget! GO NAVY, to borrow a phrase, if you kick the tiger in the ass! YOU better have a plan for his teeth! look's like they didnt plan.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIrony alert: Yesterday, May 1, was the 8th anniversary (to the day) of President George W. Bush's famous 'Mission Accomplished' speech.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseFROM EARLY REPORTS the morning after, it appears the Spec-Ops planners learned important lessons from "Desert One" aborted rescue attempt of US Embassy personnel held in Teheran, Iran during Pres. Carter Administration.
On balance, this should make for some really interesting Senate confirmation hearings for designed Sec Def (LEON PANETTA) and DCI (US Army Gen. DAVID PATRAEUS) - IMHO.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseDid anyone actually listen to the mission accomplished speech? A. It was in regards to Iraq, not Al Quaeda. B. It was confirming that major combat operations were over and successful in Iraq - which they were. C. Bush made clear in that speech there was still a long, difficult road to finish the job in Iraq. D. Bush's administration stayed on that road despite objections - specifically from the current president in his Senatorial days - to finally achieve success.
It was a great job by our military and this President to take this piece of trash out. Nobody should fault Obama for basking in the credit his administration deserves for completing this mission. But if you pay close attention, you will notice that this was an effort that started long before the change of Presidents. An important part of the intelligence looks to have been gathered under the Bush administration - and perhaps using the much maligned interrogation techniques Bush took so much heat for. This was a 10 year effort and it's foolish to try and politicize the results to color it as the sole success of either man.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseA hearty salute and well done to all US Armed Forces special operators, analysts and support personnel involved in this brilliantly executed operation.
The men of NAVPECWAR TEAM 6 do what they do like so many of their fellow quiet professionals, without the glare of the limelight and with consumate skill and focused intensity they allow the rest of us to sleep safely at night. They remain the whispering voice of death haunting the night of every thug with an AK or IED who tries to justify with the worship of a loving God with taking of innocent lives.
Without diminishing in the least the exceptional role that these exceptional warriors have made in arranging for UBL's final judgement for the slaughter of innocents, I hope that others who read this will join me in rememberance and renewed support for all of our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines who along with their families continue to "stand on the wall".
Semper Fidelis,
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseRHam
USMC,USA,VA(100%SC)
Yeah, what Belltower said.
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