Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden has been killed in an American-led operation in Pakistan, US President Barack Obama has announced.
The man who masterminded the September 11 attacks was buried at sea in the early hours of this morning, after US forces swooped on a villa in the town of Abbotabad.
In footage filmed at the scene, flames were seen rising from a building that was the target of the raid at 1:30am local time on Sunday.
It is thought Bin Laden had been living in the walled $1m villa - just 35 miles from the Pakistani capital Islamabad - for at least the last eight months.
The high-security luxury home, which was built in 2005, aroused suspicion after authorities noted it had no telephone or internet connections.
US officials said the CIA tracked bin Laden to his location, thenelite troops from Navy Seal Team Six, a top military counter-terrorism unit, flew to the hideout in four helicopters.
The al Qaeda leader was reportedly asked to surrender by US forces before he was shot in the head.
After the 40-minute operation, which was carried out without the intervention of the Pakistani military, the troops recovered Bin Laden's body.
He was buried at sea according to Islamic traditions, US officials said, in a bid to prevent his grave becoming a shrine.
Pakistani television stations earlier broadcast what they claimed was a photograph of the bloodied face of the world's most wanted man after his death, but this was later said to be a fake.
Three adult males were also killed when US forces swooped on the compound, including one of Bin Laden's sons.
Officials said one of military helicopters suffered mechanical failure during the operation and was destroyed after troops had safely disembarked, leading to the blaze visible at the scene.
"A small team of Americans carried out the operation with extraordinary courage and capability. No Americans were harmed. They took care to avoid civilian casualties," President Obama said.
Pakistan's president Asif Ali Zardari is now chairing a meeting of Pakistan's top mlitary and civilian leadership in Islamabad.
Following the raid, President Obama confirmed in a news conference: "I can report to the American people and to the world, that the US has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden."
The US president said he was briefed last summer about a possible lead to the whereabouts of Bin Laden - who fled the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 - and last week appproved an operation "to bring Bin Laden to justice".
Speaking from Downing Street, the Prime Minister David Cameron said the news would be welcomed across the country.
"It is, I believe, a massive step forward," he said.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Office issued an alert to UK nationals overseas, advising them to monitor local reactions and remain vigilant.
Radical preacher Anjem Choudary, who acts as spokesman for Muslims Against Crusades claimed that attacks on the UK and fierce fighting abroad would be sparked within days.
"I think Britain is more likely to face a 7/7 today than ever," the sharia law lecturer said.
Sky's US correspondent Robert Nisbet said: "We seem to be building a picture that this was very well thought through. Obviously the president was informed every step of the way."
President Obama spoke to former president George W Bush and former President Bill Clinton before announcing Bin Laden's death.
President Bush said it was a "momentous achievement".
"The fight against terror goes on, but tonight America has sent an unmistakable message: No matter how long it takes, justice will be done," he said in a statement.
President Obama also warned that "al Qaeda will continue to pursue attacks" against the US.
"The death of bin Laden marks the most significant achievement to date in our nation's effort to defeat al Qaeda. His death does not mark the end of our effort," he said.
The US state department issued a worldwide travel alert to all US citizens warning of an "enhanced potential" for US citizens to be targeted.
