Hamza, Osama bin Laden's son, is 'dead'
The US State Department had offered a $1m reward for information about him earlier this year.
Thursday 1 August 2019 11:08, UK
Osama bin Laden's son Hamza - a potential successor as al Qaeda leader - is believed to be dead, according to a US official.
When asked about the claims, President Donald Trump said: "I don't want to comment on that."
The official was speaking anonymously to Reuters and did not give any more details.
Believed to be about 30 years old, experts believe he was at his father's side in Afghanistan before the 9/11 attacks and spent time with him in Pakistan.
The New York Times said it had spoken to two officials who had confirmed his death.
It reported that the US had played a role in the operation "but it was not clear how".
A $1m (£820,000) reward for information about Hamza's whereabouts had been offered by the US in February this year.
He is believed to be the 15th of bin Laden's 56 children by 22 wives, but his exact date of birth is unclear.
Hamza spent his early childhood with his parents in Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Afghanistan and, as a boy and teenager, featured in al Qaeda propaganda videos.
Letters recovered from the US special forces raid that killed his father in 2011 suggested Osama bin Laden wanted his son to join him at his Pakistan hideout and was grooming him as leader.
Hamza was married to the daughter of 9/11 lead hijacker Mohammed Atta and the couple had three children.
Their whereabouts are also unknown.
Video of his wedding, seized in the 2011 raid, was released by the US.
The US government's Rewards for Justice Program described him this year as "an emerging al Qaeda leader" who "has threatened attacks against the United States and allies".
Their $1m offer added: "Relocation possible. Submit a tip, get paid."
In May 2017 - 10 days before the Manchester Arena terror attack - Hamza had urged al Qaeda followers to attack "Jews" and "crusaders".
In the 10-minute tape, released in English and Arabic, he said: "Be perfect in your choice of targets, so that you may damage your enemies more.
His last-known public statement was in 2018 when he threatened Saudi Arabia and called on the people of the Arabian peninsula to revolt.