(Caveat: Unconfirmed) China News Service and Yomiuri Report Osama and Omar Were Assassinated

Zhonghawa Shinwen and Yomiuri Shimbun ^ | 24 October 2001 | China News Service (from Reporter Sugiyama of Yomiuri in Beijing)

[AmericanInTokyo]

Strong Caveat: This is the first and only such report that appeared several hours ago, off of Chinese and Japanese news wires, and is unconfirmed. Therefore it is just an advisory that such a report has been filed. Merits considerable skepticism while checking its validity.

Report by China News Service quoting Japanese source in Tokyo per the following (translated by AIT from Chinese from the site at: http://www.chinanews.com.cn/2001-10-24/26/133210.html/ in Chinese, and http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/05/20011024id36.htm in Japanese):

"Chinese News Service Reports: Osama bin Laden Killed?"

Filed by Hiroyuki Sugiyama, Yomiuri Shimbun Reporter based in Beijing.

Based on Japanese sources in Tokyo, news report (s) has been received that on October 16th, both the leader of Taliban Afghanistan Omar and the leader of AlQaida, Osama bin Laden, were both shot and killed in Afghanistan, by elements within their ranks. However at this time no other news sources have confirmed the assassinations.

The CNS news report stated that it is reported that Omar and Bin Laden had returned to one of the underground Taliban bases near Kandahar in the south, at approximately 11 a.m. local time in Afghanistan on 16 October. As the two and others were entering the underground base, it was reported an ally fired upon his (Omar's) back from the rear. The report is that Omar was hit in the upper torso, and bin Laden was hit once in the chest and once in the upper left shoulder area. Both expired at that location.

The report goes on to say that accompanying bin Laden were one of his sons and this son's wife, who were also hit with gunfire in the chest, waist and shoulder areas, and they too have reported suffered fatal wounds from this attack. The second eldest son of Omar also suffered a gunshot wound to the right side of his lower torso, and escaped the shooting, but expired on the following day." End of Text

[AmericanInTokyo]

Only in the event that this could be true, The information is passed on, only in the event this could be true, but the report is not appearing in the English language press yet. The Japanese information source was also not quoted by name. Either it is true, partially true or it is false (disinformation or non-credible reports), but it deserves multiple independent confirmation, seeing as Yomiuri Shimbun carried it and Yomiuri is a large, reputable mainline daily Japanese news source. They, too, had their skepticism in the title, but chose to run the story anyway. Finally, no other Japanese news services are running at this time.

[antivenom]

They have reported many LOOK ALIKES of Usama....me thinks Osama and Omar are alive.

[monkeyshine]

Disinformation I suspect.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Until the carcass is recovered and confirmed, we keep blasting away. (Of course, it keeps up even if the head of the snake has been crushed.) Good point, antivenom.

[LikeLight]

This is why I love FR. It may or may not be a credible story, but we get to decide for ourselves - not have some news editor decide for us.

[Stand Watch Listen]

The remains and DNA tests please.

[AmericanInTokyo]

certainly one of the three scenarios I suggested, in connection with these Japanese and Chinese reports.

[thesharkboy]

The remains and DNA tests please.

Their heads on pikes please.

[Constitution Day]

If true, we should put his head on a pike.

[Constitution Day]

LOL - you beat me (just)
Great minds, you know.

[AmericanInTokyo]

lol. you are indeed polite!

[Nuke'm Glowing]

Even if true, the bombing must continue. Until there are no Talibums left alive.

[NeonKnight]

If true, somebody will be looking to collect their $50 million.

[Bikers4Bush]

My vote is for disinformation.

[financeprof]

If true, unless they were killed too the perps would have delivered Omar's and Osama's heads to US forces in order to stop the air campaign and pick up the reward.

[Al B.]

They were killed by " SECRET AGENT MAN ."

[RightWhale]

To collect the reward, assuming a monetary reward is desired at all and it might not be, the head must be produced. The rest of the global terrorist fungus must also be ripped from the earth before this job order is considered done.

[AmericanInTokyo]

that's what I thought. Of course, the whole point of putting prices on peoples heads in a place like Afghanistan where loyalties shift at the drop of a Islamic prayer cap. We already knew western sources are working to drive wedges and have their organizations implode with infighting and terminations. Maybe we are seeing the effect of that aspect of the war front finally. Then gain, maybe not. One thing is for sure, the Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan has made a big point of suddenly calling a conference to state clearly that both Omar and Osama are safe and alive; he (the Ambassador) is reported to also be going to Kabul ASAP for consultations. This strikes me as a bit weird.

[Attillathehon]

Well that accounts for five of the nine mysterious caskets talked about on a previous thread.

[curmudgeonII]

Even if true, this will not be the end of the terrorism.
These scum will now have a couple of martyrs.