Osama bin Laden, the face of evil behind the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, is dead, President Barack Obama announced Sunday night.

The leader of the al Qaeda terrorist organization was killed in a firefight after intelligence led a small counterterrorism team to his hiding place in Pakistan, Obama said.

U.S. forces have custody of bin Laden’s body, Obama said.

In announcing the death, Obama recalled the nearly 3,000 people who were killed on Sept. 11, “leaving a gaping hole in our hearts,” he said.

“Tonight, we can tell those who have lost a loved one to al Qaeda, justice has been done,” Obama said.

Obama also recalled the unity of the nation in the weeks and months after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, noting that Americans need to come together again.

“The American people came together,” he said. “We offered our neighbors a hand. No matter where we came from … we were united as one American family. We were also united in our resolve to bring this viciousness to justice.”