Terrorist Leader Osama bin Laden

Death of a Mastermind
On May 1, 2011, president Obama announced that Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda had been killed. Bin Laden's loose network of jihadists called for the end to Western, especially American, influence on Muslim countries and the elimination of Israel. In his statements, he summoned the restoration of Shari'a law in the Muslim world, evoking a return to the Muslim empire reigned in the 7th century. The cover of TIME's latest issue (issue date May 20, 2011) marks this critical turn in the war on terror.

• Sept. 11, 2001