Hunting down Osama bin Laden CHINA

The raid that killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden took shape after detainees identified a bin Laden courier. Jalalabad Abbottabad
U.S. helicopters Al-Qaeda
First information Narrowing in The operation fly on raid mission leader Osama

• After 9/11, CIA
chases leads about
bin Laden’s inner
circle
• Detainees
repeatedly mention
one courier’s
pseudonym,
identifying him as
one of the few
trusted by bin
Laden; true name,
location unknown
• Courier’s true
identity learned in
2007
• Two years later,
locations where
courier and his
brother operate in
Pakistan are learned
• August 2010 Courier’s • April 29, 2011, 8:20 a.m.
Inside the AFGHAN.
bin Laden
killed by U.S.
residence found: EDT Obama authorizes compound Kabul
forces
high-security compound operation
in Abbottabad, Pakistan • May 1, 1 p.m. Top
in Abbottabad
Peshawar
September 2010 U.S. advisors gather at • Built in 2005; about Islamabad
thinks bin Laden may be White House 3,000 sq. ft. (279 sq. m)
hiding in compound INDIA
• Around 3 p.m. of space; but no Ghazi Air Base
telephone or Internet Additional forces 200 km
February 2011 U.S. (midnight in Pakistan)
service to avoid detection fly from here
thinks intelligence is Helicopters heard over
strong enough to begin Abbottabad • Two men lived on first
developing plan for floor PAKISTAN
• Two dozen Navy SEALs
going after bin Laden
drop into high-walled • Exterior walls topped PAKISTAN
March 2011 First of five compound; inside for 40 with barbed wire
National Security minutes
Council meetings on
• Bin Laden killed in last
capturing or killing bin five or 10 minutes of siege;
Laden; other meetings: shot twice in the head on
March 29, April 12, April third floor of main building
19, April 28 Wall
Opaque windows (3.4 metres
(north side) high)

Gate
Wall
(3 metres high)
Privacy wall
2005 aerial image
(2.1 metres high) of the compound

Where trash
was burned
Gate
TH
R
O

Wall
N

Bin Laden and family
lived on second and
third floor; cleared last
(5.5 metres
high)
Forces fought through
Wall
first floor where two (3.7 metres high)
adult males lived

Outcome and aftermath All times EDT

• One U.S. • Along with bin • Woman killed in • 3:32 • 3:50 p.m. • 11:35 p.m. After • Bin Laden’s
helicopter lost Laden, three adult crossfire; two p.m. Obama is told confirmation, Obama body put aboard
because of males killed: bin others injured Obama bin Laden announces in televised the USS Carl
mechanical failure; Laden’s son and returns appears to be address that U.S. forces Vinson, then
destroyed for two al-Qaeda for one of those killed bin Laden and are placed in the
security purposes facilitators update killed in custody of his body North Arabian Sea
Sources: U.S. Government, The White House, AP, Reuters, ESRI, National Journal.com Graphic: Robert Dorrell, Judy Treible, Melina Yingling © 2011 MCT