Bed-Stuy Residents React to Bin Laden's Death

Several Bed-Stuy residents were out late last night as news quickly spread that Al Qaeda leader and terrorist Osama Bin Laden had been captured and killed.

Although most expressed overwhelming satisfaction and relief at the capture of the biggest author of the 9/11 tragedy, not everyone agreed that he should have been killed.

“It’s a good thing he was captured,” said Anthony Kotchko, 25, a Bed-Stuy resident. “But they probably should have captured him and gotten more information from him instead of killing him. But I’m happy.”

Bed-Stuy resident Emmett Duffy was out riding his bike at midnight with three friends. He questioned whether Bin Laden's death was a recent occurrence, or whether he had been killed a long time ago. He also agreed that it would have been better if Bin Laden’s life had been spared:

“That’s great news, but I think he’s been dead for a while,” said Duffy. “I think they’re just now revealing it because it was politically convenient. But I think he’s been dead for a while. I also think they should have just captured him and tried to pick his brain, collect information instead of killing him, but that’s just me. I’m a conspiracy theorist.”

Other residents expressed concern about the possibility of retaliatory attacks by Bin Laden supporters.

However, Muad Khalid, 23, a manager at a corner store deli on Greene and Tompkins Avenues, disagreed. He said he doubted that Al Qaeda would try to seek revenge.

“They won't do anything, I don't think, because they can't think without him. Since he's dead, they are going to feel funny about making any moves without him telling them what to do,” said Khalid. “But this is good thing, because he was a bad man. He killed a lot of innocent people."

Another Bed-Stuy resident who was out on a late-night Chinese food run with friends rejoiced at the news.

“Yes! I’m so glad they caught him; I’m happy,” said Kenny Simms, 27. “Now if the government can find a way to drop these gas prices, we'll really be in business.”