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Osama bin Laden's compound, known locally as the Waziristan Haveli (; ''haveli'' means "mansion" and Waziristan is a region in Pakistan), was an upper-class mansion that was used as a safe house for militant Islamist Osama bin Laden, who was shot and killed there by U.S. forces on May 2, 2011. The compound was located at the end of a dirt road just 0.8 miles (1.3 km) southwest of the Pakistan Military Academy in Bilal Town, Abbottabad, Pakistan, a suburb housing many retired military officers. Bin Laden was reported to have evaded capture by living in a section of the house for at least five years, having no Internet or phone connection, and hiding away from the public, who were allegedly unaware of his presence. Completed in 2005, the main buildings in the compound lay on a plot of land, much larger than those of nearby houses. Its perimeter was 12- to 18-foot (3.7 to 5.5 m) concrete walls topped with barbed wire, and there were two security gates. The compound had very few windows. Little more than five years old, the compound's ramshackle buildings were badly in need of repainting. The grounds contained a well-kept vegetable garden, rabbits, some 100 chickens, and a cow. The house itself did not stand out architecturally from others in the neighborhood, except for its size and exaggerated security measures; for example, the third-floor balcony had a 7-foot (2.1 m) privacy wall. Photographs inside the house showed excessive clutter and modest furnishings. After the American mission there was extensive interest in and reporting about the compound and its design.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Abbottabad, the exact location of the compound where Osama bin Laden was killed in a firefight with American Navy Seals )〕 After the September 11 attacks in 2001, the U.S. searched for bin Laden for nearly 10 years. By tracking his courier Abu Ahmed al-Kuwaiti to the compound, U.S. officials surmised that bin Laden was hiding there. During a May 2, 2011 raid, 24 members of the United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group arrived by helicopter, breached a wall using explosives, and entered the compound in search of bin Laden.〔Martin, David, ''CBS Evening News'', 3 May 2011.〕〔Katie Couric, ''CBS Evening News'', 2 May 2011.〕 Encounters between the SEALs and the residents took place in the guest house, in the main building on the first floor where two adult males lived, and on the second and third floors where bin Laden lived with his family.〔 After the operation was completed and bin Laden was killed, Pakistan demolished the structure in February 2012. In February 2013, Pakistan announced plans to build a R265 million ($30m) amusement park in the area, including the property of the former hideout.〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://www.news24.com/Travel/International/Bin-Laden-hideout-to-become-theme-park-20130206 )〕 ==Architecture== In the urban setting, the architecture of the bin Laden hideout was called by an architect as "surprisingly permanent – and surprisingly urban" and "sure to join Saddam Hussein's last known address among the most notorious examples of hideout architecture in recent memory". The compound was fortified with many safeguard features intended to confuse would-be invaders, and U.S. officials described the compound as "extraordinarily unique". Associated Press identified the owner as Abu Ahmed al-Kuwaiti, who purchased the vacant land for the complex in 2004 and four adjoining lots between 2004 and 2005 for the equivalent of US$48,000. Constructed between 2003 and 2005, the three-story structure was located on a dirt road northeast of the city center of Abbottābad. The local architect for the project said it was only built and planned for a two-story structure and that the third floor (where bin Laden lived) was built afterwards in an illegal construction.〔 While the compound was assessed by U.S. officials at a value of 1 million,〔 local real estate agents assess the property value at 250,000.〔Declan Walsh, (Osama bin Laden hideout 'worth far less than US claimed' ), ''The Guardian'', 4 May 2011.〕 Intelligence reports have indicated that bin Laden may have moved into the complex on 6 January 2006.〔 On a plot of land much larger than those of nearby houses, it was surrounded by 〔 concrete walls topped with barbed wire. Apart from its size, it does not stand out from others in the neighborhood〔 and it was not easily seen except from close by. The compound walls were higher than usual in the neighborhood, although nearly all houses in Bilal Town have barbed wire.〔 There were no phones or internet wires running into the compound. Security cameras were found installed, and aerial photographs show several satellite dishes.〔 There were two security gates and the third-floor balcony had a privacy wall. The compound measured in size, and had relatively few windows. The compound was known as Waziristan Haveli by the local residents, and owned by a transporter from Waziristan; bin Laden previously spent time in the Waziristan area of Pakistan. One of the main builders of the compound, Gul Mohammed, was instructed to construct the 〔 high perimeter fence and then to build another wall tall around one of the dwellings. He became suspicious and when he asked about the huge, fort-like walls, he was told it was none of his business. According to Mohammed, one or two men came to supervise the project and they were not parsimonious with funds.〔 He was told to refer to the main occupant of the household as "The Master" even though he never met him.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア(Wikipedia)』 ■ウィキペディアで「Osama bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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