Allies fear reprisals over bin Laden death

America and its allies were today braced for violent reprisals from al-Qaida after Osama bin Laden was killed in a dramatic raid by US special forces.

The world’s most notorious terrorist, who inspired numerous atrocities from the 9/11 attacks in America to the July 7 bombings in London, was shot dead in a brief firefight outside the Pakistani capital, Islamabad.