OSAMA BIN LADEN’s son and terrorist heir is dead, US media reports.
Hamza bin Laden was dubbed the “Crown Prince of Jihad” and seen as the potential successor to his al Qaeda leader dad, with a $1m reward offered for his capture.
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NBC says three US officials have confirmed intelligence of the 30-year-old’s death has been received in America.
The unnamed US officials haven’t yet provided details of where Hamza Bin Laden died, or whether the US was involved in his death, NBC say.
Hamza bin Laden’s last public statement was through Al Qaeda’s public relations department in 2018.
Announcing the bounty in February, the US State Department had said it would pay out for any information leading to Hamza Bin Laden being identified or located.
The terror chief was believed to be in hiding in Pakistan, Afghanistan or possibly Iran – where he was reportedly placed under house arrest.
AL QAEDA TERROR LEADER
A State Department briefing had said said he was “emerging as a leader in the AQ franchise” after calling for attacks on the West.
The statement added: “Since at least August 2015, he has released audio and video messages on the Internet calling on his followers to launch attacks against the United States and its Western allies”.
He is said to have called for revenge specifically for the killing of his father Osama – a mastermind of the 9/11 atrocity – by US special forces in May 2011.
TERROR FIGURE
Last August it was revealed Hamza had married the daughter of Mohammed Atta – the lead hijacker in the 9/11 terror attacks.
Hamza bin Laden was the son of one of Osama’s three surviving wives Khairiah Sabar – who was holed up with her husband in the Abbottabad compound in Pakistan when he was shot dead.
He disappeared from the fortified home near a Pakistani military base just weeks before the dramatic Black Ops raid that killed his father.
He went on to spout hate online – making several public statements calling on warped jigadists to wage war on civilians in Western cities.
The terrorist was thought to be a key deputy to Al-Qaeda’s current leader Ayman al-Zawahiri.
EVIL DAD
Osama bin Laden was once named the world’s most wanted man after plotting the 9/11 attacks against the US in 2001 – which killed close to 3,000 people.
The Al-Qaeda leader was tracked down to the Abbottobad compound nearly ten years later and killed aged 54 on 2 May 2011.
His body was later buried at sea.
Speaking at the time, US President Barack Obama said: “Given the uncertainty and volatility of the current situation, US citizens in areas where recent events could cause anti-American violence are strongly urged to limit their travel outside of their homes and hotels and avoid mass gatherings and demonstrations.”
Hundreds of Americans were pictured chanting “USA! USA!” outside The White House celebrating bin Laden’s death on the night the news broke.
The State Department briefing added: “On January 5, 2017, the Department of State designated Hamza bin Laden as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist pursuant to Executive Order 13224.
“As a result of the designation, all of Hamza bin Laden’s assets based in the United States or in the possession or control of US persons are frozen, and US persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with him.”
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