Filming OBL compound: Three Chinese nationals questioned

ABBOTABAD: Police and intelligence agencies arrested three Chinese nationals from Osama bin Laden’s razed compound, police officials informed on Wednesday. The detainees were released after three hours after officials confirmed the validity of their documents.  Police sources said the two Chinese women and their male colleague were taking pictures and shooting footage of the compound on Tuesday afternoon. They were rounded up by police and intelligence officials and detained at Nawanshehr police station. According to the sources the footage and photographs of the compound were destroyed. It’s unclear whether the three were journalists or belonged to some other profession. Following the May 2 operation that killed OBL, the compound and its adjoining areas were off limits for the public. After it was razed, however, the site was opened to the public.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 13^th, 2012.