Is this the face of Osama bin Laden? New Al-Qaeda video may show first footage of terror chief since 2007



The video is deliberately blurred, the view is only partial, and it lasts for just a few short seconds.

But that is enough for the tantalising question to be raised: Is this the first video footage of Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden to emerge in more than two years?

The video, posted on the internet by Al Qaeda's media branch As Sahab, was a taped message by another Al Qaeda high-up, Abu Yah-ya al-Libi.

Is this the same man? A still image from the video released on Tuesday, left, appears to resemble Osama bin Laden, pictured in a file photo from 2007, right - but digital blurring makes it impossible to confirm



Another still from Tuesday's video, left, shows bin Laden staring straight at the camera. The image resembles another image of bin Laden taken exactly five years ago today, right - but is it him?



He was preaching a sermon on Tuesday when the video was recorded. It is not clear where the sermon was taking place.



Most of the video is of good quality - but, near the end, the view suddenly blurs as the camera zeroes in on one man in the crowd getting to his feet.

Poll Is this a picture of Osama Bin Laden? Yes No Is this a picture of Osama Bin Laden? Yes 560 votes

No 1564 votes Now share your opinion





The apparently-deliberate obstruction of the bearded man's face, combined with the setting, was enough for some of the Italian media to venture their theory that he was in fact Osama bin Laden.

Washington-based think intelligence study group IntelCenter, which released stills from Tuesday's video, said no new footage of bin Laden has been seen since 2007.

The organisation also said its own analysis of the video could not determine if the man was bin Laden or not.

Many MailOnline readers have argued that the man in the video is not bin Laden as his beard is a different colour.

However viewers elsewhere have pointed out that bin Laden has dyed his beard before, and could have done so again.

The dying of beards is a popular practice among Arab leaders, said Rita Katz, director of the SITE Institute, a Washington-based group that monitors terror messages.

Dye job: Left, Osama bin Laden in the October 29, 2004 image; and right, bin Laden in an image posted on an Al Qaeda website in 2007. His beard appears to have been dyed in the later image, said Rita Katz, director of the SITE Institute

Gathering: This clearer image from earlier in the video shows Abu Yahya Al Libi, standing centre, preaching his Eid al-Fitr sermon to the crowd. It is not clear which man is the one who may or may not be Osama bin Laden