Osama Bin Laden's Death Sparks Reaction Throughout Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - It was an emotional night as people in South Philadelphia learned of the death of Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda and the mastermind behind the September 11th attacks nearly a decade ago.
President Barack Obama announced from the White House late Sunday night that a small team of Americans carried out the operation to kill bin Laden in Pakistan (see related stories).
The news of bin Laden's death quickly spread throughout the nation, including the thousands attending the Phillies game at Citizens Bank Park.
"My daughter texted me that Osama is dead, and she's in the army," said one mother who was at the game at the time. "It was just really exciting."
News of bin Laden's death began to spread throughout the ballpark during the ninth inning of the Phillies' game with the New York Mets. Text messages to fans seemed to set off a chain reaction within the crowd, and chants of "USA, USA" grew.
"People just kept chanting and chanting, it was amazing how fast the word spread around that stadium," said Donna Villec of Palmyra.
Amid the excitement surrounding the news was also a sense of relief.
"It was about time. It took, what, ten years to catch him? It's all a matter of time, that's it," said one Phillies fan.
Reported by Crystal Cranmore and Dan Majka, CBS Philly
