Bin Laden's heir apparent believed killed in US air strike

Mohammed Atef, Osama bin Laden’s right hand man and likely successor, is believed to have been killed by a US air strike, an American official said today.

An official said Egyptian Atef, one of al-Qaida’s top strategists, is thought to have been killed by a US air strike in the last two days.

‘‘This guy was bin Laden’s military specialist since the early 1990s, widely thought to be bin Laden’s successor in the event of his death,’’ said the official.

The air strike took place near Kabul, the Afghan capital, said the official, who added there is credible evidence Atef was killed.

Atef was believed to have been involved in the planning of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre and Pentagon, US officials said.

He has also been indicted for involvement in the US embassy bombings in Africa in 1998.

Earlier this year, Atef’s daughter married bin Laden’s son, demonstrating the closeness of the Egyptian to bin Laden.

The death of bin Laden’s heir apparent would be a serious blow to the al-Qaida terrorist network, whose members are being pursued in Afghanistan by US special forces and rebels opposed to the Taliban regime.

‘‘This is a devastating blow to the al-Qaida organisation,’’ the official said.

The focus of the S. campaign in Afghanistan has shifted more toward tracking down bin Laden and al-Qaida leaders, who are thought to be hiding in southern Afghanistan where the Taliban still retains some control.

Pentagon officials have said some senior Taliban and al-Qaida leaders have been killed in recent days, but have offered no names.

‘‘We are tightening the noose,’’ said Army General Tommy Franks, commander of the US forces in the region.

The US State Department was offering a £3.5m reward for information leading to the capture or conviction of Atef.