Osama bin Laden Dead: Follow Story on Huffington Post

President Barack Obama announced at 11:35 p.m. on May 1 that Osama bin Laden,  the terrorist who orchestrated the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, was killed by American forces.

See video and transcript of Obama's speech here.

Obama said that shortly after taking office he told CIA Director Leon Panetta to make the killing or capture of bin Laden the top priority.

"Today, at my direction, the United States launched a targeted operation against that compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan," Obama said. "A small team of Americans carried out the operation with extraordinary courage and capability. No Americans were harmed. They took care to avoid civilian casualties. After a firefight, they killed Osama bin Laden and took custody of his body."

Obama noted that bin Laden's death did not mean the United States should let down its guard.

"Yet his death does not mark the end of our effort," he said. "There’s no doubt that al Qaeda will continue to pursue attacks against us. We must –- and we will -- remain vigilant at home and abroad."

Follow developing reports on this developing story on bin Laden's death at Huffington Post and AOL News.

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