The bars that line Court Street sat silent last night as students crammed in front of television screens to hear words they’ve awaited for nearly 10 years.
Osama bin Laden is dead.
President Barack Obama announced last night that bin Laden, the mastermind behind the 9/11 terror attacks that killed thousands, was killed in an operation led by U.S. Navy Seals in Pakistan.
The complete details of the attack have yet to be released, and information slowly trickled out via national news outlets early this morning.
Bin Laden, 54, was shot in the head and killed after U.S. forces stormed the mansion in northwestern Pakistan where he had been residing.
The operation was authorized Friday and took place yesterday. Obama said military officials confirmed yesterday that the body recovered was bin Laden’s — bringing a decade-long global manhunt to an end.
“Justice has been done,” Obama said.
Unlike in Washington D.C. — where thousands gathered outside the White House chanting “Yes we can” and singing “The Star Spangled Banner” — Athens streets remained relatively subdued as students celebrated in small groups rather than gathering en masse.
Some students took to the streets waving flags and chanting. Others shot off fireworks and blasted “God Bless America.”
But no major crowds gathered, no Uptown property was destroyed and no couches burned.
OU’s oft-riotous students celebrated in moderation.
“The crowd Uptown isn’t much bigger than it is Uptown on most Sundays,” said Athens Police Lt. Ralph Harvey at about midnight. “(The crowds) are a little boisterous, but other than that, they’re not causing any problems.”
Students on Mill Street began chanting “USA! USA!” Meanwhile, the typically bustling Court Street bars fell dead silent as patrons watched Obama address the nation.
“At least the job is finally done,” declared Nick Hesse, an OU senior studying political science.
Just moments after the celebration began, fireworks could be seen from Palmer and Franklin streets.
“The first thing we did was put up our American flag and play our American songs,” explained Jason Murdoch, an OU senior studying exercise physiology, as he celebrated on Mill Street.
The announcement of bin Laden’s death comes just months before the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Centers and Pentagon, orchestrated by bin Laden’s al-Qaida organization, that killed almost 3,000 people.
Those attacks remain painted vividly in the minds of many students who were in elementary and middle school during the deadliest domestic terrorist attack in U.S. history.
The attacks set off a chain of events that led the United States into wars in Afghanistan and then Iraq, and America’s entire intelligence apparatus was overhauled to counter the threat of more terror attacks at home.
Obama spoke with former President George W. Bush and former President Bill Clinton Sunday night to inform them of the developments.
Moments after the president spoke, American officials cautioned that the events could lead to heightened threats against the U.S.
“I don’t want to think about (the repercussions) right now,” said John Bruno, an OU sophomore studying civil engineering, as he celebrated on Court Street. “I just want to think we got him.”
Post reporters Ryan Dunn, Adam Wagner and The Associated Press contributed to this article.
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