US4 min(s) read
Published 15:42 05 Jun 2026 GMT
A former Navy SEAL who claims he fired the fatal shots that killed Osama bin Laden has spoken out about one of the biggest questions surrounding the al-Qaeda leader's death.
Last year, Netflix released the documentary series American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden, which explores the aftermath of the September 11 attacks and the decade-long hunt for the world's most wanted terrorist.
Bin Laden was killed on May 2, 2011, when members of SEAL Team Six carried out Operation Neptune Spear at a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.
While the raid itself is well documented, what happened to bin Laden's body has remained the subject of conspiracy theories for years.
The US government has never officially identified the person who fired the fatal shot; however, several former SEALs involved in the mission have publicly discussed the raid.
Among them is Robert O'Neill, who has repeatedly claimed he was the man who killed bin Laden and features prominently in the Netflix film.
O'Neill is not the only person to have claimed responsibility. Former Navy SEAL Matt Bissonnette also detailed his version of events in his 2012 book No Easy Day: The Firsthand Account of the Mission that Killed Osama bin Laden.
Speaking in American Manhunt, O'Neill recalled the moment he came face-to-face with bin Laden.
"I turn this way and standing in front of me, two feet away is Osama bin Laden. It was one of those moments in life where things slow down," he said.
"He's taller than I thought, he's skinnier than I thought, his beard was grey/white, but I recognized his nose, this is definitely him. He's not surrendering, he's a threat, not only to me but to my entire team, he has to die," he added.
According to official accounts, bin Laden's body was first transported to Afghanistan so his identity could be confirmed.
It was then flown to the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier, where US officials say Islamic funeral rites were carried out before the body was buried at sea in the Arabian Sea, per BBC.
US authorities have said the burial was conducted within 24 hours in accordance with Islamic customs, which traditionally involve cleansing the body, wrapping it in a white shroud, and carrying out the burial quickly after death.
The decision to bury bin Laden at sea has sparked speculation for more than a decade, with some conspiracy theorists claiming there is no proof the terrorist leader was ever killed.
Others have suggested a body double was used. The theory gained attention in 2020 after President Donald Trump retweeted an article promoting the claim.
O'Neill quickly pushed back on the suggestion, writing: "Very brave men said good bye to their kids to go kill Osama bin Laden. We were given the order by President Obama. It was not a body double. Thank you Mr. President."
After the release of the Netflix series, O'Neill again addressed questions about bin Laden's burial, clarifying that he played no role in disposing of the body.
"I didn't bury anyone at sea, BTW…" he wrote on X.
US officials have previously given two reasons for the decision to bury the al-Qaeda leader at sea.
Per the BBC, no country was willing to accept bin Laden's remains, while authorities were also concerned that a traditional gravesite could become a shrine for his supporters.
Despite the official explanation, the decision remains one of the most debated aspects of the operation.
O'Neill himself has previously admitted he disagreed with the move. "I would have hung him from a bridge in New York City," he said, according to The New York Post.
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