Monday, May 02, 2011

Bin Laden's Compound - Updated

Abbottabad, Pakistan

The location of Osama Bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad has been identified by local sources. The compound, that is described as having 4m-6m (12ft-18ft) walls and being eight times larger than other homes in the area, is to the south-east of a Pakistan Military Academy. The satellite imagery shown on this Google Map clearly matches photographs of the compound released by the Pentagon (pdf link from ABC).

Abbottbad resident and Twitter user Sohaib Athar (@ReallyVirtual) Tweeted what he says was the location of the crashed helicopter in the American attack on the compound. The helicopter is being reported as having crashed because of 'technical failure'.

The New York Times describes the compound as being "a large mansion on the outskirts of the town center, set on an imposing hilltop and ringed by 12-foot-high concrete walls topped with barbed wire."

Big hat-tips to Ogle Earth and the Google Earth Blog.

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15 comments:

Anonymous said...

The Google imagery clearly states "®2011Google" not 2001

Amir said...

That's a copyright notice, not the date the photo was taken.

For example, the photos of the area around the Cardiff City Stadium is a few years out of date - just compare it with the current map.

Amir said...

Sorry, here's a link.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=cardiff+city+stadium&aq=&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=10.706311,26.762695&ie=UTF8&hq=cardiff+city+stadium&hnear=&ll=51.473356,-3.204262&spn=0.005507,0.013068&t=h&z=16

Mark Hughes said...

Link to Osama Bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan (Google Maps Satellite Imagery) http://j.mp/l8kDy6

Eric said...

Since the author of this post clearly admits they are not certain this is it, why don't you change the headline to explain that uncertainty. You give the impression this is definitely it. But you just don't know. Perhaps change the title to "Bin Laden's Compound on Google Maps?" with a question mark.

Anonymous said...

fyi, google earth's imagery is dated 2005.

Mickey said...

Anonymous - Some of the imagery in the area is dated 2005, but much of it is 2001.

Jim Anderson said...

Blog post on finding the correct location of Osama Bin Laden's compound: http://www.goleaddog.com/news_blog/blog/ (The Google Maps location is incorrect.)

Luz said...

CIA releases bin laden compound location http://www.businessinsider.com/satellite-images-of-bin-ladens-compound-2011-5

Anonymous said...

Lat 34°10'9.67"N
Long. 73°14'31.75"E

Keir Clarke said...

Thanks for the great detective work guys!

I've now updated the post to show the true location as confirmed by the CIA.

Primo said...

Nothing. I compared the photos of the CIA with information that gave the papers to Google Earth ... I'm not convinced and then I started to work. Greetings from 'Italy, Primo.

Fabian said...

The whole thing doesn't fit to that video :/ It's more complex. not only one building. There are many one-storey additions. Also I don't find all of these walls on Google Earth.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlWMsApBOws

markability . blogspot . com said...

Correct links to Google Map location, White House Press briefing satellite photo and diagram:
http://j.mp/mke9lW

..of Osama Bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

Anonymous said...

You don't really think what there telling us is true do you?????? Since when does the government tell you anything that is true?? There are people that know the truth, and they need to come forward!