" Cela faisait huit ans que je traquais Ben Laden et les leaders d'Al Qaida. Et là, j'étais à quelques minutes de sauter de l'hélicoptère pour atterrir dans la cour de sa résidence surveillée. J'ai attrapé le filin relié au fuselage du Faucon Noir. Le sniper à côté de moi s'est posté, une jambe dans l'hélico, une dehors pour dégager de la place dans l'habitacle. Avec son arme il scannait les cibles dans la résidence. Il devait couvrir le côté sud pendant que l'équipe d'assaut se glissait dans la cour du bâtiment principal avant de se séparer, chacun allant accomplir la tâche qui lui était impartie. La veille seulement, aucun de nous pensait que Washington donnerait le feu vert pour cette mission. "



Lorsque Mark Owen survole Abbottabad en hélicoptère en ce 2 mai 2011, il sait que cette mission sera la bonne. La cible : nom de code " Geronimo ". Alias Oussama Ben Laden, recherché par toutes les polices depuis les attentats du 11 septembre 2001.



Engagé dans les Navy SEAL en 2004, Mark Owen a sillonné les sentiers des montagnes du Pakistan, les côtes de Somalie, les rues et villages d'Irak et d'Afghanistan à la poursuite des Talibans. Toutes ces missions préparaient la dernière. Celle qu'il a menée. Celle où il a assisté en direct à la mort du leader d'Al-Qaida.



A découvrir aussi :


L'interview de Philippe Legorjus sur france info


L'interview tv exclusive de Marc Owen à propos de son ouvrage sur CBS (en anglais)

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