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A Timeline of bin Laden's Decades-Long Reign of Terror

   VOA News  May 03, 2011
   Osama bin Laden

Photo: AP

   A brief look at how Osama bin Laden terrorized the Western world with a
   series of deadly attacks after emerging from the ranks of a wealthy
   Saudi Arabian family to create and lead a global terrorist network:
   1988: After aiding mujahideen fighters against the Soviet occupation in
   Afghanistan, Osama bin Laden establishes al-Qaida, which means "the
   base" in Arabic.
   1990-1991: The arrival of U.S. forces in Saudi Arabia to help defend
   Kuwait, invaded by Iraq, angers bin Laden. He clashes with Saudi
   authorities and is forced to leave for Sudan, where he sets up a base
   of operations for al-Qaida.
   1992: A bomb explodes at a hotel in Yemen, shortly after a group of
   U.S. soldiers leave. Intelligence officials later determine this was
   bin Laden's first attack.
   1993: Terrorists linked to al-Qaida explode a truck bomb in a parking
   garage underneath the World Trade Center in New York City. The blast
   kills six people, but fails to bring down the towers.

   Khobar Towers

   1996: A truck bomb destroys Khobar Towers, a U.S. military residence in
   Saudi Arabia, killing 19 American soldiers.

   1998:

   February: Bin Laden declares to the world that it is the duty of every
   Muslim to "kill Americans wherever they are found."

   August: Bombs explode simultaneously at the U.S. Embassies in Kenya and
   Tanzania, killing 224 people and wounding some 4,500 others. Then-U.S.
   President Bill Clinton declares bin Laden "Public Enemy Number One."

   2000: Suicide attackers ram a boat full of explosives into the hull of
   the USS Cole in Yemen, killing 17 U.S. sailors and wounding more than
   30 others.

   NY World Trade Center, September 11, 2011

   2001:

   September 11: Al-Qaida hijackers fly two passenger planes into the
   World Trade Center's twin towers in New York City and a third plane
   into the U.S. military headquarters outside Washington. A fourth
   hijacked plane meant for another target in the U.S. capital crashes
   into a field in Pennsylvania. In total, some 3,000 men, women and
   children die in the attacks. Bin Laden later releases a tape in which
   he takes responsibility.

   December: Passengers on a transatlantic flight from Paris to Miami
   prevent bin Laden-sympathizer Richard Reid from detonating explosives
   concealed in his shoes.

   2002: Two bombs explode in a crowded nightclub area on the Indonesian
   resort island of Bali, killing 202 people, including 28 British
   citizens. Authorities blame an al-Qaida-linked group for the attack.

   A photo of alleged Sep 11, 2001 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed soon
   after he was arrested (file photo)

VOA

   2003: 9/11 plotter Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is captured in Pakistan. He
   reportedly gives interrogators information on bin Laden couriers.
   2004: Bombs explode on commuter trains in the Spanish capital, Madrid,
   killing at least 190 people. In a new tape attributed to bin Laden, the
   al-Qaida leader reportedly offers a truce to European countries that do
   not interfere in the affairs of Muslims.
   2005:

   Four explosions hit London's transit system, killing more than 35
   people and wounding at least 700 others.

   Al-Qaida's number 3, Abu Faraj al-Libbi is arrested by Pakistani
   special forces and turned over to the CIA.

   2006: A U.S. air strike kills one of bin Laden's top commanders,
   al-Qaida's leader in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
   2007: U.S. officials learn the identity of one of bin Laden's courier's
   who will eventually lead them to him.

   2010: U.S. intelligence officials identify the courier's residence in
   Abbottabad, Pakistan.

   President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, along with members
   of the national security team, receive an update on the mission against
   Osama bin Laden in the Situation Room of the White House

AP

   President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, along with members
   of the national security team, receive an update on the mission against
   Osama bin Laden in the Situation Room of the White House, May 1, 2011

   September 2010: President Obama is informed about the residence and
   told that a "high value target" is living there.
   March 2011: President Obama begins meetings on the situation.

   April 29, 2011: President Obama authorizes special forces to proceed.
   May 1, 2011: President Obama tells the world that Osama bin Laden has
   been killed by U.S. special forces following a 40-minute firefight at
   his hideout in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

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