The death of 9/11 mastermind Osama Bin Laden has caused security to be tightened in many parts of the world, in anticipation of terrorist retaliation.
The US embassies in New Delhi, Moscow and a host of other nations have all had their security boosted while, in the US itself, the same applies to airports, train stations and the former site of the Twin Towers in New York.
The CIA has urged the nation to watch out for suspicious activity, while the FBI has stressed the type of locations that terrorists could now strike. Ground Zero, where the Twin Towers stood prior to September 11th 2001, is now under the close watch of New York police, while intelligence operations are being carried out in Los Angeles and Washington police are actively patrolling that city's underground network.
All involved are emphatic that no direct threat has been received since Bin Laden's death, but that the prospect of terrorism now seems more likely. And these are just the visible US security enhancements, with a whole host of other security boosts taking place out of the public's eye.
Osama Bin Laden died after being shot in the head in a raid involving US Navy SEALs. Once his body had been examined and his identity confirmed, his body was buried at sea.
The search to locate and destroy Bin Laden had been ongoing for years and spanned the rule of three US Presidents. While fuelled by the destruction caused by the attack on the Twin Towers, Osama's reputation as an extremely wanted man had begun in the President Clinton era, some years before.
Once his death had taken place, the US State Department released a caution to US citizens in every part of the world, in an effort to place them on high alert.
"Given the uncertainty and volatility of the current situation, US citizens in areas where recent events could cause anti-American violence are strongly urged to limit their travel outside of their homes and hotels and avoid mass gatherings and demonstrations', it said, adding: "US citizens should stay current with media coverage of local events and be aware of their surroundings at all times."
"Though Bin Laden is dead, al-Qaeda is not", Leon Panetta - the Director of the CIA - said in a statement released on 2 May: the day after Bin Laden's death. "The terrorists almost certainly will attempt to avenge him, and we must, and will, remain vigilant and resolute"
Image copyright US Navy
See also:
US Faces Continued Persistent Threat
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