Discovery Channel's 'SECRETS OF BIN LADEN'S LAIR' to Reveal New Details of Raid, 5/1

On Tuesday, May 1 at 10PM ET/PT, Discovery Channel will premiere SECRETS OF BIN LADEN'S LAIR, a one-hour special that provides the very first comprehensive television report on currently classified intelligence seized during the May 2, 2011 raid on Osama Bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. The special will also air on Discovery Chanel across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia-pacific and Latin America beginning on May 10. Produced by Peacock Productions, NBC News correspondent Harry Smith serves as narrator.

When United States Navy SEALs from the Special Operations Forces (SOF) killed Osama Bin Laden during Operation Neptune Spear, they captured a prize far greater and more valuable than his body: a treasure trove of intelligence that included 10 hard drives, five computers, and more than 100 storage devices with 15,000 distinct separate documents, and between 15,000 - 25,000 snippets of video. Access to this top secret intelligence was granted to a select few outside the intelligence community. Discovery, in concert with NBC News, was given an exclusive briefing on the classified intelligence by a senior U.S. Counterterrorism official. NBC News' Chief Pentagon Correspondent Jim Miklaszewski was among those who attended the briefing.

"A year after the world learned of the death of Osama Bin Laden, this in-depth special reveals new details from the treasure trove of classified intelligence seized by NAVY SEALs, and a rare glimpse into Bin Laden's private world," said Eileen O'Neill, Group President of Discovery and TLC Networks.

SECRETS OF BIN LADEN'S LAIR provides exclusive razor sharp insight into herculean efforts to seize the intelligence and analyze it, which included a team of 200 intelligence analysts and 100 linguists feverishly working around the clock. It also features exclusive interviews with the government insiders and journalists who were briefed on the intelligence. The Intelligence provides insight into bin Laden's leadership of Al Qaeda, details about other terrorist groups he corresponded with, his life on the run, how he evaded capture for so many years, and a chilling insight into the plots bin Laden was scheming. Viewers will also learn about the personal life of the world's most wanted terrorist and his numerous wives who lived with him in his compound.

Additionally, intelligence reveals Bin Laden's interest in manipulating media coverage, his desire to offer exclusive reports to news networks, and he and his advisor's choice words about the U.S. cable news wars and their thoughts on MSNBC and CNN, and FOX News Channel. Intelligence also reveals direct quotes from Bin Laden for his plan to assassinate President Obama, that include, "Obama is the head of infidelity and killing him will automatically make Biden take over the presidency . . . Biden is totally unprepared for that post, which will lead the U.S. into a crisis."

Produced for Discovery by Peacock Productions, SECRETS OF BIN LADEN'S LAIR taps into the expertise of Michael Leiter, former national Counterterrorism Center director; NBC News' Chief Pentagon Correspondent Jim Miklaszewski; terrorism expert Evan Kohlmann; Bruce Riedel, former CIA and Middle East advisor to the last four U.S. presidents; Philip Mudd, former Deputy Director of Counterterrorism, CIA, and Robert Windrem, Sr. Investigative Producer, NBC News.

"I think people will be very surprised by what they will learn in this special about Osama bin Laden," said Gretchen Eisele, Executive Producer Peacock Productions. "It underscores why we spent years hunting him down, but it also unmasks him, revealing a more nuanced and complex picture of the world's most wanted terrorist."

SECRETS OF BIN LADEN'S LAIR is produced for Discovery Channel by Peacock Productions. Gretchen Eisele is the Executive Producer of the program, ShaRon Scott is the Executive in Charge of Production, and Knute Walker and Benjamin Ringe are also Executive Producers. Brooke Runnette serves as Executive Producer for Discovery Channel.

Peacock Productions is an award-winning, nonfiction Production Company that combines the editorial expertise, technical resources and seasoned production talent of NBCUniversal. It offers a wide-range of programming to broadcast, cable and digital entities with worldwide reach. To learn more, please visit peacockproductions.tv.

Discovery Channel is dedicated to creating the highest quality non-fiction content that informs and entertains its consumers about the world in all its wonder, diversity and amazement. The network, which is distributed to 100.8 million U.S. homes, can be seen in 210 countries and territories, offering a signature mix of compelling, high-end production values and vivid cinematography across genres including, science and technology, exploration, adventure, history and in-depth, behind-the-scenes glimpses at the people, places and organizations that shape and share our world. For more information, please visit www.discovery.com.

Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is the world's #1 nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in 210 countries and territories. Discovery is dedicated to satisfying curiosity through 130-plus worldwide television networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science and Investigation Discovery, as well as US joint venture networks OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, The Hub and 3net, the first 24-hour 3D network. Discovery also is a leading provider of educational products and services to schools and owns and operates a diversified portfolio of digital media services, including HowStuffWorks.com. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.

 

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