ensure
d that the correct Islamic funeral rituals were carried out.
Responding to the killing of Osama Bin Laden, the Pakistani Taliban threatened attacks against Pakistan and the United States. The international law enforcement agency Interpol called for extra vigilance, saying the death did not represent the
demise
of al-Qaeda
affiliate
s. More from our security correspondent Gordon Corera.
The concern in many parts of the world is that those who follow Osama Bin Laden may wish to show that the death of their leader has not materially affected their ability to pursue his agenda of violence. Pakistan’s main Taliban faction has already threatened to attack the country’s leaders and army as well as the United States. In London the government has warned Britons overseas to exercise caution in all public places and avoid demonstrations, large crowds of people and public events.
Many groups affiliated to al-Qaeda, like the offshoot in Yemen, will be barely affected by Bin Laden’s death since he exercised little operational control.
Saudi Arabia, where Osama Bin Laden was born, welcomed the killing, expressing hope that it would deal a severe blow to al-Qaeda and its ideology. Libyan rebels also welcomed news of his death and urged the United States to kill Colonel Gaddafi as well. In Gaza, the Palestinian Hamas government condemned the killing and described Bin Laden as a 'holy warrior'.