US attempt to 'assassinate' Osama bin Laden thwarted: Al-Qaeda

London, Feb 10(ANI): An alleged assassination attempt on Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden by the United States has been thwarted.

Abu Al-Fatah, an Al Qaeda operative, claimed that bin Laden had foiled a mission carried out by American forces to track his hideout.

He said that a USB stick containing interview questions sent to the Al-Qaeda chief contained a tiny tracking beacon.

Its signals would have helped the US target his location with an unmanned drone attack.

Al-Fatah said that the chip was discovered when bin Laden's security scanned the USB stick.

"The US forces used a device that could transmit signals to a satellite for conducting an air strike on Bin Laden. They discovered a 5mm chip in a USB device meant to reach our leader for an interview," the Sun quoted Al-Fatah, as saying.

The Al-Qaeda chief's hideout is thought to be in the mountain border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. (ANI)