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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

SEAL explains why bin Laden dangerous when killed

Kimberly Dozier Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Navy SEAL Matt Bissonnette says SEALs raiding Osama bin Laden’s Pakistan hideout last year shot him dead instead of capturing him because his arms were hidden and may have been holding weapons.

Appearing Sunday on CBS’ “60 Minutes,” Bissonnette says one SEAL fired after seeing a man’s head poking into a hallway. Bissonnette says he and another SEAL shot bin Laden again after finding him on his bedroom floor with a bullet in his skull, because bin Laden’s hands were hidden.

That’s more detail than was included in “No Easy Day,” the newly released book Bissonnette wrote under the pseudonym Mark Owen.

Pentagon officials say bin Laden was only shot after fleeing into his bedroom, and have threatened legal action against Bissonnette for possible releases of classified information.