Osama bin Laden is dead, Obama says
By the CNN Wire Staff
May 2, 2011 12:25 a.m. EDT
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
NEW: Obama confirms that U.S. officials have taken custody of bin Laden's body
NEW: Source: State Department to issue "worldwide caution" for Americans
NEW: Hundreds of people cheer outside the White House
Official: Bin Laden was killed along with other family members outside Islamabad

(CNN) -- The mastermind of the worst terrorist attack on American soil is dead, U.S. President Barack Obama announced late Sunday night, almost 10 years after the attacks that killed more than 3,000 people.

Osama bin Laden -- the longtime leader of al Qaeda -- was killed by U.S. forces in a mansion outside the Pakistani capital of Islamabad along with other family members, a senior U.S. official told CNN.

U.S. officials have taken custody of bin Laden's body, Obama said. No Americans were harmed in the operation, he added.

Up-to-the-minute updates on bin Laden

U.S. diplomatic facilities around the world were placed on high alert following the announcement of bin Laden's death, a senior U.S. official said, and the U.S. State Department should be sending out a new "worldwide caution" for Americans shortly. Some fear al Qaeda supporters may try to retaliate against U.S. citizens or U.S. institutions.