US Navy SEAL who shot dead Osama bin Laden unmasked

Washington : A decorated ex-Navy SEAL Robert O'Neill has been unmasked as the man who pumped three shots to the head of elusive al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden during a top-secret 2011 raid on his hideout in Pakistan.

O'Neill, 38, is the SEAL Team Six member who fired the three shots to the head of the al-Qaeda leader during the raid, according to SOFREP, a website dedicated to military news.

He grew up in Montana mining town and is now facing possible legal action for giving out the tightly held secret. He is expected to reveal himself during a two-part Fox News TV special next week.

O'Neill was one of 23 SEALS who flew into the Pakistani garrison city of Abbottabad on the night of May 2, but the last to see bin Laden alive.

It had previously been unclear precisely how the terrorist leader was killed and how many servicemen had been involved in his death.

O'Neill, who is married with children, was last year interviewed by Esquire magazine, which did not publish his name. He told how he joined the army at the age of 19 as a reaction to his then-girlfriend leaving him.