News Outlets Report bin Laden’s Body Taken to USS Carl Vinson, Buried at Sea

News outlets reported on Monday that Osama bin Laden’s body was taken to the USS Carl Vinson after he was shot and killed during a raid by U.S. military forces.

“Before Osama bin Laden's body was lowered to its final resting place at sea, the last spot on earth to host his remains was reportedly the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson,” ABC News reported.

The USS Carl Vinson is based in Coronado. The ship on Nov. 30 with about 6,000 sailors on board and headed for a routine deployment in the U.S. Fifth Fleet area of the Persian Gulf, as part of Operation Enduring Freedom and New Dawn.

Although the Navy has not officially confirmed the aircraft carrier's involvement, ABC News said officials from the Pentagon told them and several other outlets that the terrorist’s body was taken to the ship. Politico reported that this occurred less than 12 hours after the raid.

U.S. officials also said his body was buried at sea. In Islam, it is customary to bury the body within 24 hours, before the next of five daily prayer periods are complete.

“Officials said that, in accordance with Muslim law, bin Laden's burial at sea was conducted by a Muslim seaman, who recited the prayers and ensured that the body was washed and wrapped appropriately in cloth,” ABC News reported.   

The USS Carl Vinson made headlines two weeks ago when one of its F/A-18C Hornets during a training exercise. The fire was quickly extinguished once the jet landed on the flight deck, and no one was injured.

As of April 15, aircraft aboard the USS Carl Vinson had flown more than 1,060 sorties in support of troops on the ground in Afghanistan.