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Osama bin Laden dead

How the story of Osama bin Laden's death unfolded on social media. (First published May 2, 2011; updated May 3, 2011)

With US President Barack Obama poised to address the people Keith Urbahn, chief of staff in the office of Donald Rumsfeld, dropped a bombshell...
keithurbahn @keithurbahn
So I'm told by a reputable person they have killed Osama Bin Laden. Hot damn.
Mon, May 02 2011 02:24:05
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http://twitter.com/keithurbahn/status/64877790624886784
— keithurbahn (@keithurbahn)Mon, May 02 2011 02:24:05
keithurbahn @keithurbahn
Don't know if its true, but let's pray it is.
Mon, May 02 2011 02:26:15
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http://twitter.com/keithurbahn/status/64878337159479296
— keithurbahn (@keithurbahn)Mon, May 02 2011 02:26:15
keithurbahn @keithurbahn
Ladies, gents, let's wait to see what the President says. Could be misinformation or pure rumor.
Mon, May 02 2011 02:31:23
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http://twitter.com/keithurbahn/status/64879628124295168
— keithurbahn (@keithurbahn)Mon, May 02 2011 02:31:23
Around the world, media outlets scrambled to confirm the news, while still waiting for Mr Obama to officially announce the Al Qaeda leader's death...
abcnews @abcnews
Terrorist leader Osama bin Laden is dead: reports
Mon, May 02 2011 02:47:35
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http://twitter.com/abcnews/status/64883704325091328
— abcnews (@abcnews)Mon, May 02 2011 02:47:35
Encuentran a Osama Bin Laden muerto. yfrog.com/gyjj0zkj
chaparro979 @chaparro979
·
Mon, May 02 2011 02:53:57
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http://twitter.com/chaparro979/status/64885306356277248
— chaparro979 (@chaparro979)Mon, May 02 2011 02:53:57
Osama Bin Laden is dead twitpic.com/4s6wrw
jettson @jettson
·
Mon, May 02 2011 02:53:52
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http://twitter.com/jettson/status/64885285133107200
— jettson (@jettson)Mon, May 02 2011 02:53:52
Osama Bin Laden is dead. // plixi.com/p/97929575
WadeOn1420 @WadeOn1420
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Mon, May 02 2011 02:53:48
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http://twitter.com/WadeOn1420/status/64885271371591680
— WadeOn1420 (@WadeOn1420)Mon, May 02 2011 02:53:48
Bin Laden dead twitpic.com/4s6yuy
andypitz @andypitz
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Mon, May 02 2011 02:58:18
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http://twitter.com/andypitz/status/64886401803624448
— andypitz (@andypitz)Mon, May 02 2011 02:58:18
There was initial scepticism, with some wondering if this was a hoax...
ichaadisty @ichaadisty
Osama bin Laden is dead?!?! Is it true, or just hoax
Mon, May 02 2011 03:01:52
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http://twitter.com/ichaadisty/status/64887298302550016
— ichaadisty (@ichaadisty)Mon, May 02 2011 03:01:52
nurinuriii @nurinuriii
Osama Bin Laden is dead ? No pict = hoax.
Mon, May 02 2011 03:00:03
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http://twitter.com/nurinuriii/status/64886842381701121
— nurinuriii (@nurinuriii)Mon, May 02 2011 03:00:03
DarrenONeill_@DarrenONeill_
Hasn't Bin Laden Died every year since the 9/11 attacks happened? #news #Hoax
Mon, May 02 2011 02:58:18
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http://twitter.com/DarrenONeill_/status/64886403116441602
— DarrenONeill_ (@DarrenONeill_)Mon, May 02 2011 02:58:18
SoCalNewlywed @SoCalNewlywed
I thought this Bin Laden dead thing was a twitter hoax, but now I'm watching CNN and it seems to be true. Wow!
Mon, May 02 2011 02:59:54
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http://twitter.com/SoCalNewlywed/status/64886806100975616
— SoCalNewlywed (@SoCalNewlywed)Mon, May 02 2011 02:59:54
As the world awaited confirmation of the story by the US government, Twitter was alive with speculation on the implications of claims Bin Laden was killed in an operation in Islamabad...
andersoncooper @andersoncooper
Waiting for details. A source telling Ed Henry that Osama was killed in mansion outside Islamabad. Was he living there?
Mon, May 02 2011 03:17:39
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http://twitter.com/andersoncooper/status/64891270497189888
— andersoncooper (@andersoncooper)Mon, May 02 2011 03:17:39
SarangShah @SarangShah
I still can't believe Islamabad. It fulfills so many conspiracy theories. It's as if Obama just revealed he's a Kenyan.
Mon, May 02 2011 03:21:15
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http://twitter.com/SarangShah/status/64892176181628929
— SarangShah (@SarangShah)Mon, May 02 2011 03:21:15
declanwalsh @declanwalsh
cnn says killed by a "US asset". conflicting reports about pakistan and afghanistan.
Mon, May 02 2011 03:04:58
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http://twitter.com/declanwalsh/status/64888078526988288
— declanwalsh (@declanwalsh)Mon, May 02 2011 03:04:58
declanwalsh @declanwalsh
how could a US "military asset" kill him 'outside islamabad'?
Mon, May 02 2011 03:13:38
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http://twitter.com/declanwalsh/status/64890262392029184
— declanwalsh (@declanwalsh)Mon, May 02 2011 03:13:38
Finally, an hour after he had planned to make the announcement, Mr Obama confirmed that Bin Laden was dead...
abcnews @abcnews
Obama: The US has conducted an operation that has killed Osama bin Laden:
Mon, May 02 2011 03:35:59
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http://twitter.com/abcnews/status/64895886282604544
— abcnews (@abcnews)Mon, May 02 2011 03:35:59
LeslieCannold @LeslieCannold
"Three thousand citizens taken from us (on 9/11). leaving a gaping hole in our hearts" - Obama speech live now tinyurl.com/csn4tq
Mon, May 02 2011 03:37:18
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http://twitter.com/LeslieCannold/status/64896215124426752
— LeslieCannold (@LeslieCannold)Mon, May 02 2011 03:37:18
Barack Obama confirma la muerte de Osama Bin Laden twitpic.com/4s7ic5
kris_beso @kris_beso
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Mon, May 02 2011 03:39:58
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http://twitter.com/kris_beso/status/64896888062742528
— kris_beso (@kris_beso)Mon, May 02 2011 03:39:58
abcnews @abcnews
Obama: We went to war against Al Qaeda to protect our citizens, our friends and our allies.
Mon, May 02 2011 03:38:22
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http://twitter.com/abcnews/status/64896485598302208
— abcnews (@abcnews)Mon, May 02 2011 03:38:22

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