Celebratory Fireworks Heard in Vinings as Osama bin Laden is Killed

It didn’t take long for the Twitter world to be abuzz as President Barack Obama announced the death of Osama bin Laden Sunday night.

Tweeted @msupace at 11:50 p.m., “Bin laden is dead!!!!!!!’’

And a few minutes later, “Fireworks being shot here in Vinings, GOD BLESS THE USA!!!!!!!!!’’

So how did you feel when you heard the news? We want to know your thoughts and feelings concerning the confirmation that al-Qaeda leader bin Laden was gunned down in a mansion near the Pakistani capital of Islamabad. 

The announcement of bin Laden's death comes just four months before the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, which resulted in the death of nearly 3,000 Americans.

President Obama said he gained credible intelligence about the terrorist leader's whereabouts last week and ordered the strike on the compound on Sunday.

After a firefight, a small team of American forces killed bin Laden and took possession of his body.

"For over two decades, bin Laden has been al Qaeda’s leader and symbol, and has continued to plot attacks against our country and our friends and allies.  The death of bin Laden marks the most significant achievement to date in our nation’s effort to defeat al Qaeda," Obama said in a statement posted on the White House website.

News reports Monday said that bin Laden's body had been buried at sea and had been handled in accordance with Islamic custom.

Obama warned bin Laden's death does not mark the end of the United States' efforts to combat al Qaeda.

"There’s no doubt that al Qaeda will continue to pursue attacks against us," Obama said.  "We must –- and we will -- remain vigilant at home and abroad."

The President added that Americans did not start this fight and fully understand the human costs of this decade long war, but will not tolerate threats against our national security.

"We will be relentless in defense of our citizens and our friends and allies," he said.  "We will be true to the values that make us who we are. And on nights like this one, we can say to those families who have lost loved ones to al Qaeda’s terror:  Justice has been done."

U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), the vice chairman of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, said in a statement:

"This is a historic moment for the U.S. special operations and intelligence communities. I highly commend the special operations units who undertook this mission and carried it out with no injuries to women or children inside the compound. The CIA and others in the U.S. intelligence community did a phenomenal job over several months in carrying out this assignment." 

What was your reaction to the news of the killing of bin Laden?

You can get continual updates from our friends at The Huffington Post, and we invite you to share your thoughts and feelings about this news in the comment box below.