News of the death of Osama bin Laden drew throngs of celebrators overnight to the area and the White House in Washington, D.C. as well a Ground Zero in New York.
Soon after President Barack Obama's late-night announcement on bin Laden's death, crowds descended on Lafayette Square north of the White House with American flags and impromptu chants celebrating the demise of the Al Qaeda ringleader. Many were undergraduate students from nearby universities, including Georgetown and George Washington University.
"This is full circle for our generation," Maureen Hasson, a 22-year-old Justice Department employee, told the New York Times. "Just look around at the average age here. We were all in middle school when the terrorists struck. We all vividly remember 9/11 and this is the close of that chapter."
In New York, bin Laden's death was writ large on Times Square news tickers, while a few miles south at Ground Zero, crowds that included families of 9/11 victims converged to celebrate as well as commemorate those killed nearly 10 years ago.
Bin Laden was killed by U.S. Forces in a large compound north of Islamabad in Pakistan.
"The death of bin Laden marks the most significant achievement to date in our nation's effort to defeat Al Qaeda, President Obama said in late Sunday evening remarks. "But his death does not mark the end of our effort. There's no doubt that Al Qaeda will continue to pursue attacks against us. We must and we will remain vigilant at home and abroad."
A U.S. government official told CNN on Monday that DNA matching analysis was underway from samples of bin Laden's body, which was buried at sea. Photographs of bin Laden following his death have not yet been released, nor is it clear if they will be.
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