Al-Qaida confirms bin Laden death, vows reprisal

>>> good evening. today, the president of the united states delivered the thanks of a grateful nation to a group of men whose names we can't know and whose faces we can't show. members of the u.s. navy s.e.a.l. team who pulled off the high-stakes raid that killed osama bin laden . the president went to ft. campbell, kentucky, where halfway around the world , we're still learning more about the raid, what was grabbed, the official confirmation of bin laden 's death, and a potential threat to all of us once again. we start off with two reports tonight, beginning at the scene, ann curry on the ground in pakistan tonight. ann, good evening.

>> reporter: brian, good evening to you. and confirming osama bin laden 's death today, al qaeda is clearly trying to reinvigorate its jihad and sent a message that its war on americans will go on without him. at the same time, u.s. intelligence officials tell nbc news bin laden was fully engaged in al qaeda operations a s at the time of his death. coordinated protested that announced the raid against the killing of osama bin laden in multipl cities today as al qaeda reacted for the first time. quote, soon, with god's help, we shall flip their celebrations into sorrow and their blood shall mix with tears.

>> soon could mean anything from the next three days the next three years. it's difficult to know and it's important to emphasize al qaeda uses its language whether or not it has an attack in score.

>> these images are the newest from inside the compound where they tell nbc news bin laden was far from retired and was al qaeda 's operational leader. u.s. intelligence also tells nbc news, a lot of video as well as details of plots around the world and associates were found. osama bin laden 's compound is just beyond these buildings, but today, the pakistani soldiers have told us all the media has to be pushed back and if they even see our cameras, they threaten to take them. local officials in abbottabad said the compound is now cleansed. they have as many as three of bin laden 's wives in custody under interrogation. the cia asked for access to the wives, especially bin laden 's last and favorite wife. she was known to be devoted to bin laden and was in the room when he died and she told interrogators that bein laden and his family have been living in the abbottabad combound for the last five years. al qaeda also said today it will soon release a voice recording of bin laden which it claims was made a week before his death.

>> ann curry , thanks for your