President Obama: Osama Bin Laden Killed in U.S. Attack

President Obama tonight announced that the United States has captured and killed Osama bin Laden, the head of the Al Quaeda terrorist network that took responsibility for the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the United States. News reports say the action occurred in Pakistan with a gunshot to bin Laden by American forces.

Many residents who live in Northern Virginia remember where they were when terrorists steered a U.S. jet into the Pentagon on 9/11, killing more than 100. Local emergency crews and firefighters rushed to the scene.

The president's late-night announcement came just after 11:30 p.m. ET tonight in a short announcement from the East Room at the White House, carried by all TV networks. The White House announced that the president would take to the airwaves at 10:30 p.m. and news networks began reporting the terrorist's death before the president's announcement.

"We have never forgotten your loss nor wavered...to prevent another attack on our shores," the president said. "Today's achievement is a testament to the greatness of our country."