Osama Bin Laden Dropped To Bottom Of The Ocean With 300 Pounds Of Iron Chains
Osama bin Laden was dropped to the bottom of the ocean with 300 pounds of iron chains strapped to his body after being killed by U.S. special forces, the former director of the CIA has revealed.
In a new book from former defense secretary and CIA director Leon Panetta, it was revealed that bin Laden’s body was moved quickly out to sea after he was killed. The body was transported by Marines flying in an Osprey and taken to the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson.
“Bin Laden’s body was prepared for burial according to Muslim traditions, draped in a white shroud, given final prayers in Arabic, and then placed inside a heavy black bag,” Panetta wrote in his latest book Worthy Fights: A Memoir of Leadership in War and Peace, which hit the book stores today.
Panetta didn’t announce the final resting place for Osama bin Laden, but said American forces wasted no time in burying him at sea.
“Three hundred pounds of iron chains were put inside as well, to ensure that the body would sink,” he wrote. “The bagged body was placed on a white table at the rail of the ship; the table was tipped over to drop the body into the sea. It was so heavy that it dragged the table in with it. As the body sank quickly out of sight, the table bobbed on the surface.”
There had already been some details published about bin Laden’s burial. Emails between military leaders released in 2012 told of the preparations taken with his body, and first revealed that the military observed Muslim burial rights for the terrorist leader.
“Traditional procedures for Islamic burial was followed,” said one e-mail, adding, “The deceased’s body was washed (ablution) then placed in a white sheet. The body was placed in a weighted bag. a military officer read prepared religious remarks, which were translated into Arabic by a native speaker. After the words were complete, the body was placed on a prepared flat board, tipped up, whereupon the deceased’s body slid into the sea.”
The emails also revealed that there were only a handful of people present to see Osama bin Laden dropped into the ocean strapped with 300 pounds of iron chains.
