Osama bin Laden’s death in Pakistan at the hands of U.S. Special Forces marks the end of a years-long search. Although the terrorist mastermind had managed to avoid using computers or cell phones that could have alerted intelligence services to his location, it was his reliance on one of the world’s oldest methods of communication—human couriers—that allowed the CIA to pinpoint him in the tiny Pakistani town of Abbottabad. On May 1, President Barack Obama announced that Navy SEAL operatives had raided a three-story compound and, after a brief firefight, shot bin Laden to death. Even before Obama took to the podium, Twitter buzzed with rumors of bin Laden’s death, and news Websites like The New York Times experienced notable slowdowns from droves of readers thirsty for information. As more information leaked, users also headed to Google Maps to “pin” the location of bin Laden’s compound. Some left notes satirizing the hideout as the world’s worst vacation spot. (“You always get this feeling you’re being watched.”) Indeed, thanks to services like Google Maps and Google Earth, the masses can now follow bin Laden’s infamous career from Khartoum and Jalalabad to the tribal areas where he reportedly hid following the U.S. invasion in the wake of 9/11, and the area of Pakistan where he met his violent end.
of
The Compound
Within hours of bin Laden’s death, Google Maps users had marked the location of his compound in Abbottabad.
Proximity
Abbottabad has a reputation as a quiet, orderly part of Pakistan, home to any number of retired Pakistani army officers. Google Maps reveals several schools, hospitals and universities (including Pakistan’s equivalent of West Point) in the immediate area.
Suspicions
As seen in this Google Earth image, the compound’s high walls, security gates and isolation on a dirt road had intelligence officials believing it held a high-value target.
Border Region
For years, many experts believed that bin Laden was hiding somewhere in the rugged border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan, seen here on Google Earth.
Tribal Areas
As this Google Maps image suggests, the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region is devoid of towns and infrastructure, in theory making it an ideal place to hide for long periods of time. The presence of U.S. drones in the skies over the area, however, has made it more dangerous for Taliban and al Qaeda personnel.
Burial at Sea
Following the raid on his compound, U.S. officials decided to bury bin Laden’s body in the northern Arabian Sea.
Khartoum
In the mid-1990s, bin Laden set up base in Khartoum, Sudan. He was later expelled from the country, and headed for Afghanistan, where he had participated in the 1980s war against the invading Soviets.
Jalalabad
Following the 9/11 attacks, bin Laden was sighted at several points around Jalalabad.
Tora Bora
In December 2001, bin Laden and followers took refuge in Tora Bora, a cave system built into the mountains of eastern Afghanistan. Despite a massive U.S. bombing campaign, followed by a ground assault on the stronghold, bin Laden managed to slip away.
Pakistan
Years later, bin Laden would be found in an urban area not far from Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. Hiding in (relatively) plain sight, it seems, proved successful for only so long.
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Osama bin Laden’s death in Pakistan at the hands of U.S. Special Forces marks the end of a years-long search. Although the terrorist mastermind had managed to avoid using computers or cell phones that could have alerted intelligence services to his location, it was his reliance on one of the world’s oldest methods of communication—human couriers—that allowed the CIA to pinpoint him in the tiny Pakistani town of Abbottabad. On May 1, President Barack Obama announced that Navy SEAL operatives had raided a three-story compound and, after a brief firefight, shot bin Laden to death. Even before Obama took to the podium, Twitter buzzed with rumors of bin Laden’s death, and news Websites like The New York Times experienced notable slowdowns from droves of readers thirsty for information. As more information leaked, users also headed to Google Maps to “pin” the location of bin Laden’s compound. Some left notes satirizing the hideout as the world’s worst vacation spot. (“You always get this feeling you’re being watched.”) Indeed, thanks to services like Google Maps and Google Earth, the masses can now follow bin Laden’s infamous career from Khartoum and Jalalabad to the tribal areas where he reportedly hid following the U.S. invasion in the wake of 9/11, and the area of Pakistan where he met his violent end.