Community Corner

Osama bin Laden Is Dead

Nearly ten years after Sept. 11 attacks, bin Laden was killed in Pakistan.

12:20 a.m. Update:  CNN is reporting that the attack to capture bin Laden took about 40 minutes and was carried out by Navy Seals. They also reported that the compound where bin Laden was located had walls about 10-15 feet thick.

12:15 a.m. Update: It's been nearly 10 years since 9/11. On this occasion, we remember those lost that day. The Washington Post has a site compiling a list of the victims from the attack on the Pentagon, as well as those killed in the attack on the World Trade Center in New York City and those who died in an airplane crash in Pennsylvania.

Burke/Springfield Area Pentagon Attack Victims:

Find out what's happening in Burkewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Lt. Col. Stephen Neil Hyland Jr.,  45
Burke
Charles E. Sabin Sr.
,
54
Burke
Rosa Maria (Rosemary) Chapa
,
64
Springfield
Charles A. Droz III
, 52
Springfield
Cmdr. Patrick Dunn
,
39
Springfield
Ada L. Mason-Acker
,
50
Springfield
Patricia E. (Patty) Mickley
,
41
Springfield
Marjorie C. Salamone
,
53
Springfield
Janice M. Scott
,
46
Springfield
Vicki C. Yancey
,
43
 Springfield

 

Find out what's happening in Burkewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

President Barack Obama announced Sunday night that al Qaida leader Osama bin Laden was killed in Abbottabad, Pakistan by a U.S. Team after months of investigation and work.

The news of bin Laden's death, which broke out earlier in the evening via Twitter and Facebook, had reports pouring in on the major news networks. Hundreds of people in Washington DC are running to the White House to celebrate the news with chanting and singing. We're hearing reports from George Mason University students on Twitter that the news is being shouted out of dorm windows on campus. The White House Twitter Feed has segments of President Obama's speech on it.

Bin Laden and al Qaida were behind the September 11, 2001 attacks, as well as the bombings of two U.S. embassies in 1998 and numerous other attacks. Obama stated that at his direction, the US launched a targeted operation in which bin Laden was killed after a firefight. He said that no Americans were harmed.

"His death does not mark the end of our efforts," Obama said. "We must – and we will - remain vigilant at home and abroad."

He emphasized that this fight was never about differences in religion.

“The US is not – and never will be – at war with Islam … bin Laden was not a Muslim leader. He was a mass murderer of Muslims," he said. "His demise should be welcomed by all who believe in peace and human dignity."

What does this news mean to you? What memories of 9/11 does this bring back? How were you affected by the attack on the Pentagon in DC? Parents - How will you explain this to your children? Do you plan to remember this event by raising a glass, saying a prayer, singing the national anthem, or joining the crowd celebrating in DC?


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