IPSWICH: Elation, anger and relief–they were the mixed emotions of one mother whose teenage son was killed in Afghanistan following the death of Osama Bin Laden.

On August 23, 2007 Private Aaron McClure, 19, was killed while fighting in Helmand Province – a war sparked by the 9/11 atrocities masterminded by Bin Laden’s terror group, al-Qaeda.

In the early hours of yesterday morning, President Barack Obama announced that US forces in Pakistan had raided a mansion close to a military training ground, killing the world’s most wanted man after a decade-long manhunt.

Thousands of Americans gathered in Washington to celebrate his death after it was revealed that four helicopters staged the attack near to Abbottabad, about 60 miles north of the Pakistani capital Islamabad.

The terror chief was reported to be held at gunpoint and when he refused to surrender he was shot.

US officials have said the 54-year-old’s body has already been buried at sea to prevent his grave becoming a shrine for extremists.

Yesterday as Lorraine McClure, Aaron’s mum, woke to hear the news of the mass murderer’s demise she said she felt “elated”.

“It has been a day of real mixed emotions,” she said. “When I woke up I was pretty elated.

“Then it turned to anger and then sadness, sadness for everybody who has suffered at the hands of that evil man.”

While the news will not bring back her son, Miss McClure, of Marlow Road, said it brings her “comfort” knowing Bin Laden is dead.

But she said she fears his death will encourage reprisals from extremists.

“Nothing will bring my Aaron back,” she added. “But it brings me comfort and it will bring hundreds of other mothers of the fallen comfort to know he is dead.

“It is hard to believe it has actually happened. He was the most wanted man in the world.

“But I think the consequences of this could be worse – it is worrying to think what might happen now.”

n What do you think about Bin Laden’s death? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.