Osama Bin Laden in Tora Bora
A rare set of a photos of Osama bin Laden in his hideout in the Tora Bora mountains, taken by Palestinian journalist Abdel Barri Atwan in 1996, were brought to light last month during the terrorism conspiracy trial of bin Laden’s lieutenant Khaled al-Fawwaz in New York.
Photo: Osama bin Laden sitting inside his Tora Bora hideout in front of Islamic books to videotape a message.
Osama Bin Laden, Tora Boraa
Atwan: "He [bin Laden] loved that nature there. He loved the mountain. They were trying to have their own community, grow their foods."
Abu Khalid Al-Suri, walking with Bin Laden, was reportedly killed in a suicide attack in Aleppo, Syria in February 2014.
Osama Bin Laden, Tora Bora
Journalist Abdel Barri Atwan (R) with bin Laden ally Abu Khalid Al-Suri during this visit to Afghanistan in 1996 to interview the al Qaeda leader.
The evidence at the trial last month showed Fawwaz acted as bin Laden’s media representative in London; screening requests for interviews and facilitating travel to Afghanistan for journalists who were given access to bin Laden.
Osama Bin Laden, Tora Bora
Osama bin Laden is seen inside his compound in Tora Bora.
Bin Laden often sat in front of shelves of Islamic books in the videos he broadcast to the outside world.
Osama Bin Laden, Tora Bora
The evidence presented at Fawwaz's trial showed that he'd acted as bin Laden’s media representative in London.
Fawwaz, a Saudi citizen, was convicted on four counts related to his participation in al Qaeda’s conspiracy to kill Americans after a six-week jury trial.
Sitting with bin Laden in his hideout, are (L) al-Suri and (R) British documentary filmmaker Gwynne Roberts.
Osama Bin Laden, Tora Bora
Holding a Kalashnikov rifle, Osama bin Laden poses in the mountains of Tora Bora in November 1996.
Osama Bin Laden, Tora Bora
Abu Khalid Al-Suri can be seen taking photos in Tora Bora.
Abu Khalid was linked through personal contacts and money transfers to the terror cell responsible for the Madrid train bombings in March 2004, and a Spanish court document referred to Abu Khalid as bin Laden’s "courier" in Europe according to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Osama Bin Laden, Tora Bora
Abu Khalid Al-Suri walks with Bin Laden.
Al-Suri was reportedly killed in a suicide attack in Aleppo, Syria in February 2014.
Osama Bin Laden, Tora Bora
Carrying his Kalashnikov rifle, bin Laden hikes in the mountains of Tora Bora.
In 2001, the U.S. suspected that the area was being used as Osama bin Laden's headquarters. They spent years searching for him after the 9/11 attacks he masterminded.
Osama Bin Laden, Tora Bora
Bin Laden sits on a bed in his primitive hideout in Tora Bora with Islamic books and rifles.
In 2006, Atwan wrote in the "The Secret History of Al Qaeda" that bin Laden lived in a "humble cave".
Osama Bin Laden, Tora Bora
A photo of Osama bin Laden taken in 1996.
Osama Bin Laden, Tora Bora
Bin Laden on a walk in the mountains near his hideout in Tora Bora.
Bin Laden spent long hours exploring the area around his hideout, often on grueling 14-hour treks.
Osama Bin Laden, Tora Bora
Bin Laden enjoys one of his many walks in the impenetrable mountains.
Bin Laden's son Omar bin Laden: "My brothers and I all loathed these treks that seemed the most pleasant of outings to our father."
Osama Bin Laden, Tora Bora
The U.S. military searched for years in the White Mountains of eastern Afghanistan for the world's most wanted man - Osama bin Laden.
Osama Bin Laden, Tora Bora
Osama bin Laden holds a Kalashnikov rifle in Tora Bora, a mountainous area of Afghanistan, in November 1996.
Osama Bin Laden, Tora Bora
The mountains surrounding Bin Laden's Tora Bora hideout.
Bin Laden told Atwan, "I feel really secure in the mountains."
Osama Bin Laden, Tora Bora
Bin Laden and his followers developed an intricate network of caves high up in the White Mountains.
The caves and passages were hideouts and protection against air strikes.
Osama Bin Laden, Tora Bora
One of the homes in the area Osama bin Laden remained elusive for years.
Osama Bin Laden, Tora Bora
Some of the homes in Tora Bora.
Osama Bin Laden, Tora Bora
Bin Laden's hideout in Tora Bora was close to the the Pakistani city of Jalalabad for an easy escape if needed.
Osama Bin Laden, Tora Bora
The rough terrain of the mountain area of Tora Bora.
Osama Bin Laden, Tora Bora
The region of Tora Bora.
Osama Bin Laden, Tora Bora
One of the houses in Tora Bora.
Osama Bin Laden, Tora Bora
Some of the fighters that protected bin Laden, his wives and children in Tora Bora.