The Rock Claims He Knew About Osama bin Laden Death Before Official Announcement

Home> Wrestling> WWE

The Rock Claims He Knew About Osama bin Laden Death Before Official Announcement

Dwayne Johnson claimed he knew about bin Laden's death before Obama's announcement

The Rock has claimed he knew Osama bin Laden had been killed before President Barack Obama had made his official announcement.

Back in 2011, American Navy SEALs raided a compound near Islamabad in Pakistan and shot dead bin Laden - the man behind the 9/11 attacks.

It brought an end to a 10-year manhunt for the most wanted man in the United States.

Obama confirmed bin Laden's death to the world in a televised address from the White House.

He described it as "the most significant achievement to date in our nation's effort to defeat al-Qaeda," as crowds gathered outside to celebrate.

However, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, who rose to fame through WWE before making the transition to Hollywood, has claimed he knew about bin Laden's death before Obama's address.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, he said: "I’ve got a friend of a friend who gave me a call.

Dwayne Johnson and Barack Obama (Image: Getty)
Dwayne Johnson and Barack Obama (Image: Getty)

"The call was like, ‘Hey, this thing happened.’ And I said, ‘Okay, wonderful news.’

"I was told on the call that the president at that time [Barack Obama] was going to make his speech in 20 minutes or whatever.

"I said, ‘Okay, great.’ So 20 minutes go by, and at about the 25th minute, I tweet this.

"Then I get a second call, and the call is, ‘Yeah, the president didn’t go on yet.’ And I went, ‘Oh sh*t.'"

Bin Laden was the man behind the attacks on September 11, 2011, in which nearly 3,000 people died.

Nineteen al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four commercial planes, flying two into the Twin Towers in New York City, one into the Pentagon, and another which crashed into a rural field.

New York marking the anniversary of 9/11 (Image: Getty)
New York marking the anniversary of 9/11 (Image: Getty)

The planes struck the Twin Towers 17 minutes apart, setting them on fire and trapping hundreds in the upper floors.

It took less than two hours for both towers to collapse.

The third plane crashed into the western side of the Pentagon, just outside Washington D.C, the home of the US military.

The fourth aircraft came down in a field in Pennsylvania, after passengers fought to regain control.

It is believed the hijackers had planned to target the Capitol Building.

Nearly 3,000 people were killed in the attacks, while thousands more were injured,

In response, President George W. Bush launched the War on Terror, and ordered the invasion of Afghanistan to overthrow the Taliban.

American troops remained in the country until 2021, when the Taliban regained control.

Featured Image Credit: Getty

Topics: The Rock, Dwayne Johnson, WWE, Wrestling