Is this the blurry face of Osama bin Laden? New Al Qaeda video may show first footage of leader since…
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.
Is this a picture of Osama Bin Laden?
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.
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
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