Bin Laden used one of his wives as human shield: US official
One of Osama bin Laden’s wives served as a human shield during the attack by US special troops, according to a chief US official.
Counter-terrorism official John Brennan accounted, "There was family at that compound, and there was a female who was, in fact, in the line of fire that reportedly was used as a shield to shield bin Laden from the incoming fire."
The woman shot dead by Navy SEALs during a firefight at a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan appeared to be one of bin Laden's four wives, Brennan related in a White House briefing.
"That is my understanding," Brennan remarked.
"Whether or not bin Laden or the son or whatever put her there or she put herself there" is not completely clear, added Brennan.
“Whether the Al-Qaeda chief himself fired rounds during the exchange” needs more clarification too, said the official.
With the scene that met their eyes, Brennan considers bin Laden’s narratives over the years false as he is manipulating people to do the attacks while he hides himself in safety which is his nature as an individual.
"From a visual perspective, here is bin Laden who has been calling for attacks, living in this million-dollar-plus compound, living in an area that's far removed from the front, hiding behind women who were put in front of him as a shield," he said.
In addition to the woman, Bin Laden was killed by a bullet to the head and senior US officials said two brothers believed to be his couriers and one of his adult sons also perished in the raid.
A bullet to the head was also believed to have killed bin Laden besides the woman. Senior US authorities said two brothers who serve as his couriers and one of his adult sons also died in the foray.