PUBLIC figures across the region have given their reaction to the news that Osama Bin Laden has been killed.

In a speech late on Sunday night US president Barack Obama, confirmed the capture and death of the Al- Qaeda leader in a military operation in Pakistan.

Bin Laden’s body has reportedly been disposed of at sea to avoid physical shrines being created to the terrorist leader.

Bournemouth East MP, Tobias Ellwood, who lost his brother in the Bali bombings, said: “When I saw the news flash this morning my first thought was finally at last we’ve got the Al-Qaeda leader.

“He is less of an influence and more symbolic but this is a significant step in the fight against terrorism.

“It’s changed everybody’s lives, not just those who have lost loved ones and not just those in the military, but the way we have gone about our lives in the last decade has been defined by terrorism.”

Mr Ellwood added that “there is still work to be done in Afghanistan” despite Bin Laden’s demise.

“It’s not as simple as that. He will continue as what they will call a martyr. There are other organisations fighting democracy and the Taliban is influenced by Al-Qaeda.”

New Forest West MP, Desmond Swayne, who served in Iraq with the Territorial Army, said: “It is good news because it will damage the morale of Al-Qaeda.

“In the short term it might make things marginally worse but in the long term the damage to their morale will undoubtedly undermine the movement.”

South Dorset MP Richard Drax, a former serving soldier, said: “There is a part of me that is relieved that this man who has generated so much hate has died by the sword he wielded for so long.

“There is another part of me that regrets that the death of someone like this will sadly cause others of like mind to behave irrationally.

“I suspect in time we will see strikes against western targets in revenge.

“I think the death of Bin Laden reminds us all that the price of freedom does not come cheap.”