until the fall. thank you for joining us. >> thanks for tonight on "world news," eye witness. osama bin laden's young wife is talking. and his daughter says she saw her father shot and killed. and tonight, we'll tell you what was sewn into bin laden's clothes. and what was that every day item those navy s.e.a.l.s forgot to take to the scene? top secret. the president will not release a death picture of osama bin laden. while some 9/11 families say they have a right to see it. abc news exclusive. the secret futuristic flying machine that helped the s.e.a.l.s take bin laden by surprise. what was it? part of it disappeared. did it wind up with the chinese? brian ross investigates. and, hope lives. a week after tornadoes brutalized the south, a joyful

surprise reunion amid the devastation. good evening and welcome to "world news." and tonight, we have been told that the women closest to osama bin laden are in custody and talking. his young wife, shot and wounded in the raid, and his 13-year-old daughter, who says she was there, she watched as her father was killed. and, as you are going to see here in a minute, only here on abc news, we have learned today that this raid, the navy s.e.a.l.s raid, was made possible by an astonishing flying machine few people even knew had been invented. our team at home and in pakistan is standing by with all that they have been learning today, beginning with martha raddatz, who has uncovered some fresh detail tonight about what happened inside that compound. martha? >> reporter: diane, for all the

planning that went into this, all the gear, there was one minor glitch in the identification process. the s.e.a.l.s forgot a tape measure to size up the famously tall bin laden. so, they improvised. one of the s.e.a.l.s lay down next to the corpse and approximated that the dead man was, in fact, about 6'4". he was the most feared terrorist in the world, but there he was, huddled in a third floor room with his youngest wife, listening to the bursts of gun fire and the approaching navy s.e.a.l.s for nearly 40 minutes. he was trapped. abc news has learned that sewn into his traditional clothing was an emergency stash of money -- 500 euros -- about $800 -- and two emergency phone numbers. not much, but maybe he thought he could bribe his way out if he escaped. but the plan did him little good. >> it's not that surprising that he went down without firing a shot in his own defense. he was a strategist and a thinker.

not really a warrior. >> reporter: abc news has also learned tonight that bin laden's 13-year-old daughter saw her father killed in front of her eyes. and that she is now, according to security officials, cooperating with pakistani investigations. so is her 29-year-old mother, ahmed amal, who was shot in the leg, trying to protect bin laden. she was a gift to the al qaeda leader when she was only 15 years old. there was little chance that bin laden would have lived through the assault. one u.s. official saying tonight, "unless he was standing naked with his hands up, they were taking him out." this comfortable city compound, where an official told abc news that bin laden was dying his beard to cover the gray, was a stunning setting for his demise. for years, officials, including the president, have said bin laden was likely in a cave in the wild tribal areas of pakistan. >> between the borders of afghanistan and pakistan.

this is the heart of it. this is where bin laden is. >> he is, as is obvious, in very deep hiding. he's in an area of the -- the tribal areas in pakistan. obviously has tremendous security around him. >> reporter: that obviously did not turn out to be true, but clearly, panetta's cia stayed with it, ending this story with stunning success, diane. >> all right, martha. and we'll go now to pakistan. our nick schifrin, as you know, brought the world the first photos inside the bin laden compound. and, he has managed to track down a friend of the men who were bin laden's links to the world outside those walls. and he reports tonight from abbottabad. >> reporter: it is the world's most infamous hideout. and today, we got a rare insight into the private lives behind the walls, thanks to this man, a friend of the two brothers who ran bin laden's compound, his infamous couriers and closest advisers. he spoke on the condition we blur his face.

"they interacted with very few people," he says. "those inside stayed to themselves, rarely venturing out. not attending weddings or funerals. bin laden never left." adults, whether friends or strangers, weren't allowed to enter the walls. "they never even responded," he says, "if someone knocked on their door." only neighborhood children were welcomed, those who came to play with bin laden's and the courier's kids. at least eight children lived within the walls. one child came for a visit and was given rabbits as a gift. life in the hideout was simple. they owned two vehicles, both cheap suzukis. the couriers shopped at the mom and pop stores where shelves are filled with items you might find in any store in the u.s. on their shopping list, from this store, seven large pieces of bread and seven chickens each day. the confidant told us about security measures, which, for this area, are extremely rare and high tech. the barbed wire that's on top of the walls was electrified and

there were many cameras spread throughout the compound. and the whole time, living just a short drive away from pakistan's equivalent of west point. we made the drive ourselves, past the mosque the brothers visited every day, past their neighborhood homes. past a shop that was open late. and here we are, about five minutes after we left the compound, this corner is the pakistan military academy. i was a terror hideout in plain sight. nick schifrin, abc news, abbottabad, pakistan. >> and you can see more of nick's exclusive footage inside the compound, including the eerily commonplace items, the medicines he used and what was left on the pantry shelves. that's at abcnews.com/worldnews. since sunday night, the cliff hanger question has been, will the white house show the world the pictures of the body of osama bin laden? well, today, the president decided no. and jake tapper is at the white house tonight to tell us why. jake?

>> reporter: good evening, diane. well, that's right. president obama decided that given the graphic nature of the photographs, releasing them would pose a national security risk. he said, quote, americans and people around the world are glad bin laden is gone. but we do not need to spike the football. no photos. that was the president's decision this morning, having been strongly urged by secretary of defense bob gates and secretary of state hillary clinton, that releasing the photos could do far more harm than good. inflaming passions in the muslim street. putting u.s. troops, government personnel and american citizens at risk. it is enough that the u.s. killed bin laden, the president said. >> the terrorists who started this war and who took so many innocent lives learned that america does not forget. america will ensure that justice is done. >> reporter: today, the president told "60 minutes," "it is important for us to make sure that very graphic photos of somebody who was shot in the head are not floating around as

an incitement to additional violence. or as a propaganda tool. that's not who we are. we don't trot out this stuff as trophies." but that goes against the advice of his own cia director, leon panetta, who as recently as yesterday was suggesting the white house would release a picture to undermine any skepticism. >> the bottom line is that, you know, we got bin laden and i think we have to reveal to the rest of the world the fact that we were able to get him and kill him. >> reporter: today, a number of troops who served in afghanistan wrote me their reactions. "great decision." "doesn't matter, long as he is dead." but one mother of a soldier killed in afghanistan felt differently, writing, "if it wasn't for this man, my son would be alive. they allow victims to go to criminal's executions. why can't the victims of bin laden's evil acts see his dead body? if it wasn't for him, my son would be alive." lisa reina, whose husband joe was in the world trade center that horrible september morning, is also disappointed in the

president's decision. >> we want to see him dead. he took away a part of all of our lives that we're never going to get back. and i think it's very important for the family members to see a picture of him dead. >> reporter: as for any skeptics, president obama said today, quote, we don't think that a photograph in and of itself is going to make any difference. there are going to be folks that deny it. the fact of the matter is, you will not see osama bin laden walking on this earth again. diane? >> all right, jake, thank you. and some of those denying it, of course, overseas in pakistan, where there is another debate raging tonight. it is about the u.s. and pakistan, and, of course, it is lighting up the air waves here at home, as well. cia director leon panetta has said that pakistan was either involved in protecting bin laden or incompetent, raising the question here at home, what about the foreign aide the u.s. has sent to pakistan, $20 billion since 9/11? jim sciutto spent the day questioning a senior pakistani intelligence officer about all of this, and he is in islamabad tonight.

jim? >> reporter: well, diane, senior security officials here are not normally in the business of speaking openly to foreign journalists, but tonight, the anger at the u.s. government is so severe inside the pakistani government, they are eager to say their piece. we were invited to meet one of pakistan's most senior security officials. it is an extremely rare interview. he refused to have his face shown or voice recorded. our first question, how could bin laden hide out for so long right under their noses? do you blame yourselves for missing bin laden? "yes, it was a failure," he said. "but if it's true that he was living there for years and the u.s. had the information, who's incompetent? if anyone failed for so long, it's the cia." you're an intelligence expert, a tremendous amount of experience. was your first reaction anger at the americans or anger at yourselves for missing him?

"i was relieved," he said, "but not happy with the way it was done." he then lashed out at america, saying the secrecy of the raid and cia director leon panetta's comments that pakistan was either incompetent or involved, had seriously damaged the relationship between key allies fighting terror. "now, there's a total deficit of trust," he said. "that is a big blow." he said bin laden's sprawling compound did not attract the attention of pakistani security officials, in part because that same location had been compromised, raided before bin laden moved in. officials looking for another senior al qaeda operative. but how could a mansion with so many high walls not stand out? "that kind of house is not something extraordinary in the area," he insisted, "where people are paranoid about security." pakistani officials are now virtually certain there will be revenge attacks. and tonight, terrorists are vowing to deliver. in a telephone interview, a spokesman for the pakistani taliban told us its sights are

set on americans. will you take revenge on american targets in response to this? "we will take revenge on america and anybody who is involved in the attacks," he said. some pakistanis still don't believe that bin laden is dead. but oddly enough, not the pakistani taliban. they're not waiting for that photographic evidence, diane. they're already vowing to keep his legacy alive with deadly violence. >> which has everyone here on high alert. thank you so much, jim. reporting from islamabad tonight. and still ahead on "world news," as we said, we have learned that those navy s.e.a.l.s had a secret flying machine. only abc news has the story. one week after the devastating tornadoes, a search ends in joy. and, the americans who waged a war without violence, 50 years ago today. [ bob ] i'd love to build bird houses for the rest of my life.

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important. aviation analysts say the remnants of the aircraft reveal they were part of one of the u.s. military's most closely guarded secrets. a stealth blackhawk helicopter whose existence was only rumored but had never been seen in public before. >> this is the first time that we've seen an operational stealth helicopter. >> reporter: the analysts say photos that emerged on the internet reveal this was no ordinary helicopter. >> one of the things that really stands out is, they have a little disc over the rotors which is really designed to both baffle the sound and to deny radar signature. >> reporter: neighbors in abbottabad told abc news they did not hear the helicopter sunday night until they were directly overhead. this is what a standard blackhawk helicopter sounds like. this is the sound of an earlier experimental version of a stealth helicopter. >> there would be a vague sound. it might be the sound of a helicopter that was going in the opposite direction.

>> reporter: one key to the chopper's stealth nature is a secret, heavy coded fabric-like material which children in the neighborhood were seen collecting. >> probably people in the pentagon tonight who are very concerned that pieces of the helicopter may be even now on their way to china because we know china is trying to make stealth aircraft. >> reporter: the chinese military is known to have close relationships with the pakistani military. and the remaining large pieces of the secret u.s. helicopter hidden under a tarp were trucked away by pakistani officials tuesday to an unknown destination. residents there also told abc news that just before the helicopters arrived, all electricity and cell phone service was knocked out and then came back on right after the choppers left. a senior pentagon official said today he would absolutely not comment on what the analysts are saying in our report. >> and no one was sure if this had been invented. if they have a sound that seems to be leaving the scene, rather them coming into the scene on a helicopter?

>> reporter: you would think it's going away from, where, in fact, it's coming right at you. it gives the ability for the s.e.a.l.s to get in there fast. >> thank you, brian ross. and, coming up, we want a program note to give you here. friday, there's going to be a special edition of "20/20," it's called "kill shot." and the story inside bin laden's death will be told in even more detail. still ahead on "world news," american families search for the missing from the tornado zone. a story of hope. ♪ hit the road, jack ♪ and don't you come back no more ♪ ♪ no more, no more, no more ♪ hit the road, jack ♪ and don't you come back no more ♪ [ male announcer ] want your weeds to hit the road? hit 'em with roundup extended control. one application kills weeds and puts down a barrier to stop new ones for up to four months. roundup extended control spray once. stop weeds for months.

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it was one week ago that america endured an unimaginable assault from nature. 305 tornadoes in 24 hours, the most in one day ever. in alabama, more than $1 billion of destruction, worse than hurricane katrina. and the human toll, even more devastating. as one person put it, loved ones seem to have been wiped off the face of the earth. tonight, yunji de nies on the search for the missing in tuscaloosa. >> reporter: doris smith came here today looking for her friend and grandchildren. their house is gone and she is losing hope. >> i believe it took her with it. i really do. >> reporter: la toya brown's family knows that agony. this is the last place she was seen alive before the monster twister tore through their town. >> it's been rough. it's been real rough, you know? just thinking about where could she be? >> reporter: they are desperate, calling everyone they can and finding nothing.

>> that lingering througho inin always there. >> reporter: they hung her picture at the red cross, alongside that of rachel aldridge. her sister has been papering the city. >> we just need to know where she is. and she needs to come home. >> reporter: so far, no news. throughout the south, the chaos of the storm has left an untold number of families searching for loved ones. officials say hundreds are missing in alabama alone. in some places, the damage is so extensive, even a week later, the only few allowed in are search and rescue teams. >> right here. >> reporter: they have miles to cover. when the canines signal, firefighters start digging through debris by hand, never knows what lies beneath. >> see the streets that i rode that fire truck for 14 1/2 years and now they're all -- everybody's gone. >> reporter: but as the day comes to a close here, amid the utter devastation, some rare good news. >> good news.

>> what? >> reporter: remember doris smith, searching for her friend and grandchildren? >> they are alive. >> they're all alive? >> everyone's alive. >> oh, thank the lord. thank the lord. >> reporter: thank god. and what an amazing moment, diane, to be with that woman as she heard that her friends are okay, those grandchildren, too. but as you take a look at all of this debris, it's clear the folks here in the south have a long road ahead. >> it was wonderful to see her get that news. and clutch her heart. thank you, yunji. and coming up, the americans who set out on a march to change history in a bus. 50 years ago, where are they now? about plaque building up in your arteries -- she called it coronary artery disease. you think that's something you can just stick in an email and that's the end of it?

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finally tonight, it was 50 years ago today, a band of warriors with no weapons, just their convictions, set out to achieve a victory in a war without violence. more than 400 americans, black and white, were the freedom riders. a pbs documentary will air about their crusade next week, but tonight, some words from some of those heros. it's their own words. >> the freedom rides were not all just about black people. we had many whites and other nationalities and they were allowing themselves to be abused. >> reporter: one of them was jim, a white college student, one of the first to be attacked and attacked violently. >> he took a beating. and he was picking the loose teeth out of his mouth. >> we're willing to accept death. but we're going to keep coming until we can ride from anywhere

in the south. you cannot have people that use violence think that if they become violent enough, you're going to fold. there are things worth dying for. we were going to continue to ride. wherever it took us. >> and one of them said, "freedom has to be won over and over. the march goes on." and, we thank you for watching. we're always on at abcnews.com and don't forget "nightline" later on tonight. we'll see you right back here tomorrow night. have a good evening. >> san francisco police closed books on a high profile murder case. seven arrests in the shooting death of a german tourist. >> we trace the breathalyzer defect that may have blown a case. >> the days of pension spiking

and double dipping may be over. lawmakers move to end the abusive practice. >> sale of life chickens. a controversial practice that is about to run afoul of the rule. >> this begins with breaking news. >> and we are over a 3alarm fire burning in san francisco. this is happening in 7th and fultop -- fultam street. >> it is blowing dramatically . there is indication that it may spread to another build we are on top and we'll bring you the latest information. and law enforcement scandal in the east bay is expanding tonight. >> police arrested one of their own for grand theft it is all part of the investigation in the narcotic's enforcement