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Birth
Osama bin Mohammed Bin Awad Bin Laden was born on the 10th of March, 1957. Osama was brought up in a wealthy family. His father was a billionaire construction baron with close ties to the Saudi Royal Family. -
Father's Death
Bin Laden's father dies in a plane crash on the 3rd of September 1967 when Osama is only 10. Bin Laden inherits a fortune between $50 million and $300 million dollars. -
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School Education
Osama Bin Laden attended the elite Al-Thager Model School, in Saudi Arabia. He was a devout Sunni Muslim growing up at this time. -
First Marriage
In 1974, at the age of 17, Bin Laden marries his cousin, Najwa Ghanem, who is only 14 at the time. They lived in the City of Jiddah in Saudi Arabia’s Western Fort, where he married 3 more wives. -
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University
Bin Laden attended King Abdulaziz University from 1976 to 1981. There is conflicting reports on what he actually studied in college.It is said that he enrolled in business and public administration while some say he graduated with a civil engineering degree. Nevertheless, University was where Bin Laden was introduced to Traditional Jihad. -
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Islamic War Against Soviet Union
On the 26th of December, 1979, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. This shocked Bin Laden and he immediately left his life in Saudi Arabia to help fight the Soviets. Over the next few years, bin Laden raises money for the campaign and becomes a guerilla commander, taking control of a force of 20,000 soldiers. He was involved in many battles, including the fight in Jalalabad which ultimately forced the Soviets to withdraw from Afghanistan. -
The Birth of Al Qaeda
On the 11th of August 1988 Bin Laden creates the terrorist group, Al Qaeda, which in Arabic means “The Base.” -
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Homecoming and Expulsion
After the war in Afghanistan Bin Laden returned as a hero, but he is expelled from Saudi Arabia the following year due to his involvement with terror groups. -
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Expansion In Sudan
In 1991, after the expulsion from Saudi Arabia, Bin Laden moves and relocates to Sudan where he establishes connections with new terror groups. -
Yemen Hotel Bombings
On the 29th of December 1992, Al Qaeda carries out its first attack. Two separate bombs were placed at Gold Mohur hotel and the Aden Movenpick. Al Qaeda targeted American troops, who were staying at hotels while on a humanitarian mission en route to Somalia. Two Australian tourists are killed in the bombings. At the same time Al Qaeda operatives prepared to launch rockets at US Military but were stopped before the launch. These attacks proved to be the start of Al Qaeda’s reign of terror.
