Terrorist group Al-Qaeda still poses a serious threat to world security despite the death of mastermind Osama Bin Laden at the hands of US troops, according to a security expert.
Dr Andrew Mumford, Lecturer in International Security at the University of Sheffield said his death would not have much impact on international politics.
He said: “Bin Laden had been isolated from the day-to-day operational running of Al-Qaeda for a long time. His primary function was as a figurehead for the movement.
“His death will not have any discernable effect on international politics, other than to have removed the most potent symbol of contemporary terrorism from the scene.
“Bin Laden was American public enemy number 1. He personally embodied the atrocity of 9/11 and therefore had individually burnt himself onto the American psyche.
“The celebrations we saw in NY and Washington was catharsis for the 9/11 attacks. There is simply not that level of psychological release in this country.
‘There is still a lot of unfinished business in the War on Terror. Killing bin Laden is only a small part of the puzzle. Bin Laden may be dead, but Al-Qaeda is not. There will be a continued focus on counter-terrorism for a while yet.”
The US raid on Bin Laden’s campaign in Abbottabad in Pakistan has also had a big impact on Sheffield’s Pakistani community.
Rauf Mohammad, a dentistry student from Multan, Pakistan, who is studying at the University of Sheffield, spoke for many of his countrymen when he said few in his homeland were surprised that the US had finally tracked Bin Laden down.
He said he hoped that the US now would stop making drone attacks in Pakistan with an excuse of targeting Bin Laden, which started approximately 6 years ago.
He said: “Pakistan has been involved with fighting against terrorism for almost a decade now and handed over hundreds of Al-Qaeda members to the US more than other countries all together.
He added that he hoped that Bin Laden’s death would bring peace, but feared it might also be the start of something worse.
“This was the climax of an action movie but at the same time it is possible that it was a trailer for a movie to start.
“Al-Qaeda and War Against Terror both were born by one name – Osama Bin Laden – and as he is no more I hope this world will be better and safe for all.”