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Osama Bin Laden killing: US Navy Seals row over shooting | Osama Bin Laden killing: US Navy Seals row over shooting |
(about 5 hours later) | |
A public row has arisen over which US commando fired the shot that killed Osama Bin Laden, more than three years after the al-Qaeda leader's death. | A public row has arisen over which US commando fired the shot that killed Osama Bin Laden, more than three years after the al-Qaeda leader's death. |
Ex-Navy Seal Robert O'Neill, 38, has told the Washington Post in an interview that he fired the fatal shot. | Ex-Navy Seal Robert O'Neill, 38, has told the Washington Post in an interview that he fired the fatal shot. |
This contradicts the account of Matt Bissonnette, another former Seal involved in the raid, in a 2012 book. | This contradicts the account of Matt Bissonnette, another former Seal involved in the raid, in a 2012 book. |
The al-Qaeda leader was killed in a 2011 Navy Seal raid on his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. | The al-Qaeda leader was killed in a 2011 Navy Seal raid on his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. |
Navy Seals usually abide by a code of silence that forbids them from publicly taking credit for their actions. | Navy Seals usually abide by a code of silence that forbids them from publicly taking credit for their actions. |
Mr O'Neill, who retired in 2012, had previously told his story anonymously to Esquire magazine. | Mr O'Neill, who retired in 2012, had previously told his story anonymously to Esquire magazine. |
He was scheduled to reveal his identity in a television interview later this month, but news of the interview angered other former Seals. | He was scheduled to reveal his identity in a television interview later this month, but news of the interview angered other former Seals. |
A website run by ex-special forces personnel published his name pre-emptively, apparently in protest at his decision to claim credit for the shooting. | A website run by ex-special forces personnel published his name pre-emptively, apparently in protest at his decision to claim credit for the shooting. |
Mr O'Neill said he and another member of the team - whose identity remains secret - climbed the stairs to the third floor of the compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, and saw Bin Laden poke his head outside the door of one of the rooms. | Mr O'Neill said he and another member of the team - whose identity remains secret - climbed the stairs to the third floor of the compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, and saw Bin Laden poke his head outside the door of one of the rooms. |
The unnamed commando, at the "point position" leading the column, fired at him but missed, according to Mr O'Neill. | The unnamed commando, at the "point position" leading the column, fired at him but missed, according to Mr O'Neill. |
An instant later, Mr O'Neill went into the room and killed the al-Qaeda leader with shots to the head, he says. | An instant later, Mr O'Neill went into the room and killed the al-Qaeda leader with shots to the head, he says. |
Seal Team 6 (ST6) | Seal Team 6 (ST6) |
Profile: Seal Team 6 | |
However, in the book No Easy Day, Mr Bissonnette claimed it was the point man who killed Bin Laden. | However, in the book No Easy Day, Mr Bissonnette claimed it was the point man who killed Bin Laden. |
On Thursday, Mr Bissonnette did not directly dispute Mr O'Neill's claim, in an interview with NBC News. | On Thursday, Mr Bissonnette did not directly dispute Mr O'Neill's claim, in an interview with NBC News. |
"Two different people telling two different stories for two different reasons," Mr Bissonnette told the broadcaster. | "Two different people telling two different stories for two different reasons," Mr Bissonnette told the broadcaster. |
"Whatever he says, he says. I don't want to touch that." | "Whatever he says, he says. I don't want to touch that." |
Mr Bissonnette is scheduled to appear on the CBS news magazine programme 60 Minutes ahead of the publication of his second book, No Hero, about his service with the Seals. | Mr Bissonnette is scheduled to appear on the CBS news magazine programme 60 Minutes ahead of the publication of his second book, No Hero, about his service with the Seals. |
Meanwhile, he is under investigation for potentially disclosing classified information in his first book, which is about the Bin Laden raid. | Meanwhile, he is under investigation for potentially disclosing classified information in his first book, which is about the Bin Laden raid. |
The official account of what happened is unlikely to be disclosed by the US government for many years. | The official account of what happened is unlikely to be disclosed by the US government for many years. |
Pentagon officials have neither confirmed nor denied Mr O'Neill's account, but senior special operations leaders sent a letter last week to all Navy Seals urging them to comply with their code of silence about operational details, including avoiding taking "public credit". | Pentagon officials have neither confirmed nor denied Mr O'Neill's account, but senior special operations leaders sent a letter last week to all Navy Seals urging them to comply with their code of silence about operational details, including avoiding taking "public credit". |
"We do not abide wilful or selfish disregard for our core values in return for public notoriety and financial gain," they wrote. | "We do not abide wilful or selfish disregard for our core values in return for public notoriety and financial gain," they wrote. |
Bin Laden was confirmed killed in the raid and his body was buried at sea. | Bin Laden was confirmed killed in the raid and his body was buried at sea. |
Darkness and close quarters inside the compound have made some Navy Seals question whether it is possible to determine whose bullets killed the al-Qaeda leader. | Darkness and close quarters inside the compound have made some Navy Seals question whether it is possible to determine whose bullets killed the al-Qaeda leader. |