CIA releases about 470,000 additional files on Bin Laden's compound raid

WASHINGTON, Nov 1 (KUNA) -- The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) released Wednesday to the public nearly 470,000 additional files recovered in the May 2011 raid on Osama Bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.
According to the Agency, CIA Director Mike Pompeo authorized the release "in the interest of transparency and to enhance public understanding of al-Qaeda and its former leader." In this regard, Pompeo noted, "today's release of recovered al-Qaeda letters, videos, audio files and other materials provides the opportunity for the American people to gain further insights into the plans and workings of this terrorist organization." He affirmed that the CIA "will continue to seek opportunities to share information with the American people consistent with our obligation to protect national security." With today's release, the information remaining in the Abbottabad collection that has not been released publicly includes "materials that are sensitive such that their release would directly damage efforts to keep the nation secure," among other reasons, such as "materials protected by copyright," the Agency explained. (end) si.hb