Washington: With a "support network" in Pakistan, Osama bin Laden had become "complacent" and kept staying at one location for the past several years without any ready escape plan, a media report said today.
Nearly two weeks after the world's most wanted terrorist was killed in Abbottabad, US officials say that several key indicators bolster their initial impression that Osama bin Laden had a support network in Pakistan that resulted in his staying in one location for the past several years, feeling comfortable he would not get caught.
The unidentified officials, familiar with the latest assessment of the May 2 raid, pointed out that there is no apparent sign that bin Laden had a ready escape plan, according to the report.
The Al-Qaeda chief did not appear to have the means or make an attempt to destroy the reams and gigabytes of documents before Navy SEALs assaulted his compound.
"It looks like he became complacent," one of the officials was quoted as saying. "There is a lot more material than we expected to find here."
Bin laden had just three men with him when the US Special Forces landed in his Abbottabad compound.
"What does all that mean?" the official asked. "How could he be so comfortable living in that location for that period of time with so little security?"
Obama Administration has still not concluded, based on the information gained so far, that bin Laden was supported by the Pakistani government but the Al-Qaeda had enough support network inside that country.
"It could take months" to fully assess the intelligence that has been gathered and the effectiveness of bin Laden's command and control of his operatives in the field, according to another US official.
"If you are the CEO of Al-Qaeda, sometimes you focus on strategy, sometimes you focus on management or personnel. Over time, he was involved in all aspects," the official said. Noting this is why the administration considers the compound to be bin Laden's "command and control centre."
Officials, however, refuted reports that the Abbottabad residence was a retirement home for bin Laden, who was actively involved in planning of terrorist operations mainly aimed at the US.
"He had a clear and continuing interest in attacking the US," the official has been quoted as saying.
Nearly two weeks after the world's most wanted terrorist was killed in Abbottabad, US officials say that several key indicators bolster their initial impression that Osama bin Laden had a support network in Pakistan that resulted in his staying in one location for the past several years, feeling comfortable he would not get caught.
The unidentified officials, familiar with the latest assessment of the May 2 raid, pointed out that there is no apparent sign that bin Laden had a ready escape plan, according to the report.
"It looks like he became complacent," one of the officials was quoted as saying. "There is a lot more material than we expected to find here."
Advertisement
"What does all that mean?" the official asked. "How could he be so comfortable living in that location for that period of time with so little security?"
Advertisement
"It could take months" to fully assess the intelligence that has been gathered and the effectiveness of bin Laden's command and control of his operatives in the field, according to another US official.
Advertisement
Officials, however, refuted reports that the Abbottabad residence was a retirement home for bin Laden, who was actively involved in planning of terrorist operations mainly aimed at the US.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Over A Decade Ago, This Pak Man Unknowingly Live Tweeted About Osama Bin Laden Raid. Read Story Donald Trump Confirms Death Of Osama bin Laden's Son And Al-Qaeda Heir In Bin Laden Raid's Shadow, Bad Blood And The Suspected Poisoning Of A CIA Officer How Extreme Weather Is Leading To Rise In Child Marriages In Pakistan 3 Days After Big Order On Deposits With SBI And PNB, Karnataka Hits Pause Monkeypox Cases Rising: How Worried Should You Be - 10 Points PM's De-Escalation Message In Call With Netanyahu Amid West Asia Tension Man Scales Wall, Jumps Inside Parliament Annexe Premises, Arrested: Report "Too Many Dead": Gaza Undertakers Stacking "Graves On Top Of Graves" Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.