WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) – Thousands of people poured into the streets outside the White House and in New York City on Monday, waving American flags and honking horns to celebrate the death of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
Almost 10 years after the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington that killed nearly 3,000 people, residents found joy, comfort and closure with the death of the mastermind of the murderous plot against Americans. For many, it was a historic, long-overdue moment.
"I'm thrilled. I really hope this is a turning point and a return to some kind of unity," said New Yorker Nick Kurczewski, who rushed to Ground Zero, the site of the World Trade Center Twin Towers that were destroyed by al Qaeda militants flying hijacked planes.
Washington residents began gathering at the White House fence soon after the first reports at 10:40 p.m. EDT (0240 GMT Monday) that bin Laden had been slain in Pakistan by U.S. special forces. The crowd swelled and were chanting "USA, USA, USA" by the time President Barack Obama formally announced the news in a televised address just before midnight.
"We had to be there to celebrate with everybody else. I'm very happy with the outcome of today's news," said Stephen Kelley, a Gulf War veteran and former U.S. Marine, who said he rushed to the White House after his wife texted him the news.
College students, who were just children when the attacks took place, turned out in huge numbers, like Jennifer Raymond, 18, wrapped in a huge U.S. flag outside the White House.
"We were all in our dorm rooms and everyone's Facebook was blowing up," said Raymond. "It's like 'Oh my God, Osama bin Laden's dead.' Everyone in the dorm was screaming. Everyone decided to come to the White House."
The celebration may well have been the biggest crowd to gather spontaneously outside the White House since Obama's election in November 2008.
'SOME CLOSURE AND COMFORT'
In New York City, Mayor Michael Bloomberg quickly issued a statement saying: "New Yorkers have waited nearly 10 years for this news. It is my hope that it will bring some closure and comfort to all those who lost loved ones on September 11, 2001."
Hundreds gathered after midnight in Times Square as a large police presence and firetrucks parked among the crowd. People cheered and drivers sent out staccato honking of horns.
Firefighters hold a special place in New Yorkers' memories of September 11, as hundreds died in the collapse of the Twin Towers while racing up flights of stairs to rescue trapped people on the upper floors.
"This is a tremendous moment, and hopefully it will bring us together, it doesn't matter if you're Muslim or Christian or whatever," said Patrice McLeod, a firefighter dressed in uniform. "We'll never give up."
It was also a night to remember the 100,000 or so U.S. troops deployed in Afghanistan, where bin Laden was believed to be hiding for many of the last 10 years. Elaine Coronado, 51, whose brother served a year in Afghanistan, said that joining the crowd outside the White House was a way of showing her support to U.S. military families.
"I was at home thinking I cannot stay at home tonight on such an historic evening. It's just an exciting evening. You have to be here," she said.
Amid the jubilation, some had words of caution about a terrorism threat that they felt was far from over.
"This is a wonderful day for our country, but it's not over. We have the next threat to think about," said Gwen Basaria, 30, who works in Washington and was visiting New York City, speaking after paying her respects at a fire department right next to Ground Zero.
(Additional reporting by Zachary Goelman, Mark Egan and Daniel Trotta in New York, and Toby Zakaria In Washington DC; writing by Mary Milliken; editing by Philip Barbara)
