THE former US Navy Seal who shot dead Osama bin Laden has been named for the first time.
Rob O'Neill has spoken out about how he pulled the trigger in the raid at the al Qaeda leader's secret compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan in May 2011.
Despite being personally congratulated by President Obama and his exploits being immortalised in a series of TV shows and films, his identity remained secret and he was known only as "the shooter".
However, he has been named after breaking his silence in an interview with US network Fox News to be screened next week.
Mr O'Neill, 38, a former member of the famous Seal Team Six, has reportedly decided to reveal his identity out of frustration at the loss of some veterans' benefits, which he forfeited by leaving the Navy after 16 years instead of 20.
His father, Tom O'Neill, told a website this week that he did not fear attacks from Islamic extremists seeking revenge. However, his son's decision to speak out publicly has provoked criticism from senior members of the military, who have said seeking publicity is against their ethos.
Mr O'Neill senior, 65, said: "People are asking if we are worried that [Islamic State] will come and get us because Rob is going public. I say I'll paint a big target on my front door and say come and get us."
Speaking about how his son, from Butte, Montana, decided to became a Navy Seal before joining the military at 19, he added: "We were going hunting and a friend asked us to take a guy who was a Navy Seal with us.
"We were expecting someone who was 6ft 8in who could lift a house with his bare hands, but he was this normal guy. And Rob said if this guy could be a Seal, then so could he."
Rob O'Neill claims to have taken part in more than 400 combat missions with the US military. He was on the rescue team depicted in the 2013 film Lone Survivor, in which a mission to capture a senior Taliban commander backfired, leaving scores of servicemen dead and a single surviving Seal eventually being brought to safety.
He also participated in the rescue of Richard Phillips, the captain of the Maersk Alabama container ship who was taken hostage by Somali pirates. That operation was later depicted in the movie Captain Phillips.
Although he previously gave an interview to a US magazine, Mr O'Neill's identity was not revealed. His account of the bin Laden killing - in which he states he shot him three times in the forehead - has been disputed by another unnamed Seal, who claims Mr O'Neill shot once before two colleagues added fire.
In the anonymous magazine interview, Mr O'Neill's wife admitted that she feared reprisals for her husband's actions and said she was considering changing her and her children's names.
Despite an exemplary record, Mr O'Neill has been warned he could face legal action if he discloses classified information, and has already drawn condemnation from military figures.
In a letter to past and present Navy Seals, Rear Admiral Brian Losey and Force Master Chief Michael Magaraci, leaders of the US Naval Special Warfare Command, wrote: "We do not abide wilful or selfish disregard for our core values in return for public notoriety and financial gain, which only diminishes otherwise honourable service, courage and sacrifice.
"Classified information is protected by law. We will actively seek judicial consequence for members who wilfully violate the law, and place our team-mates, our families, and potential future operations at risk."
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