Step into the shadowy world of one of history’s most notorious figures – Osama Bin Laden. As the enigmatic mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks, he left an indelible mark on the course of modern history. But who was the man behind the terror? Join us on a captivating journey as we delve into 20 gripping facts that will challenge your perceptions, reveal surprising truths, and offer a glimpse into the mind of a figure shrouded in mystery. Brace yourself for jaw-dropping revelations and prepare to be amazed!
1-5 Fun Facts About Bin Laden
1. Osama bin Laden, the 17th child among 58 offspring of construction magnate Mohammed bin Awad bin Laden, enjoyed an elite, Western-style education in Saudi Arabia and attended a Quaker school in Lebanon for one year.
2. When it came to love and family, Bin Laden didn’t hold back either. He followed in his father’s footsteps by marrying at least five women and having about 24 children.
3. Graduating in 1979 with a degree in civil engineering from King Abdulaziz University in Jedda, Saudi Arabia, bin Laden embarked on a significant journey when he first traveled to Afghanistan that same year. There, he utilized resources from his father’s company to support the jihadist movement resisting the Soviet Union’s invasion.
4. During the 1980s, the CIA extended support, including weapons and over $1 billion, to extremist Islamic groups, including bin Laden’s, as they fought against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan.
5. Following his father’s death, bin Laden inherited a substantial fortune amounting to $25 to $30 million, which he redirected towards jihadist activities in Afghanistan.
6-10 Interesting Facts About Bin Laden
6. It was under bin Laden’s guidance in 1988, during the final years of the Soviet-Afghan war, that Al Qaeda emerged, with a vision to globalize jihad.
7. In 1991, the United States and Saudi Arabia reached an agreement to match funding for jihadi groups, leading to the provision of over $400 million to what would eventually become the Taliban.
8. Besides his involvement in serious matters, bin Laden also had a passion for Arsenal F.C., having reportedly visited their stadium twice during a 1994 trip to London.
9. In 1998, Al Qaeda, having endorsed a fatwa titled “International Islamic Front for Jihad on the Jews and Crusaders,” executed its first major attack against the United States, detonating truck bombs outside American embassies in Tanzania and Kenya, resulting in the deaths of 224 people.
10. According to Sudanese writer Kola Boof, who claims to have been bin Laden’s sex slave in the 1990s, the infamous terrorist leader held an unusual obsession with Whitney Houston. He frequently spoke of his desire to marry her and expressed intentions of killing her husband, Bobby Brown.
11-15 Shocking Facts About Bin Laden
11. Bin Laden imposed strict rules on his followers, forbidding them from listening to music and drinking iced water. These prohibitions were part of his strict interpretation of Islamic principles.
12. Following the United States’ missile attacks on Al Qaeda’s compound in Afghanistan, triggered by tracking satellite phone usage, bin Laden refrained from using a phone after 1998.
13. Initially, bin Laden publicly denied any involvement in the September 11th attacks, only later taking credit for them in 2004.
14. In 2001, Al Qaeda got pretty creative in the death-faking department! They staged a full-blown funeral for bin Laden in the Tora Bora mountains back in 2001.
15. In 2004, bin Laden stated that his motivation for orchestrating the September 11th attacks was in response to American support for the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982.
16-20 Surprising Facts About Bin Laden
16. Surprisingly, bin Laden addressed President Barack Obama in a letter in 2011, urging him to take action on climate change.
17. Contrary to popular belief, the person who broke the news of bin Laden’s death to the public was not a renowned figure but rather Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
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18. The Center for Public Integrity estimated the cost of tracking and killing Osama bin Laden at a staggering $450 billion, making it the most expensive assassination in world history.
19. The Atlantic, in a conservative estimate, suggests that bin Laden’s actions cost the United States at least $3 trillion over a span of 15 years.
20. To this day, no physical evidence of Osama bin Laden’s death has been released to the public, leaving some skepticism surrounding the circumstances of his demise.
In a will drafted shortly after the September 11th attacks, Osama bin Laden instructed his children not to join Al Qaeda or engage in any form of jihad.
That’s it for this post guys, I hope you had fun while reading about 20 Awesome Bin Laden Facts
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