'U-S-A' chant fills the air outside White House

After midnight on Monday, the throng had filled the street in front and was spilling into Lafayette Park. People rode there on bikes and some brought dogs and took pictures.

Crowds gather outside the White House in Washington to celebrate after President Barack Obama announced the death of Osama bin Laden on Sunday. Photo: AP.

As news of the death of Osama bin Laden spread, a large crowd gathered in front of the White House to celebrate, chanting “U—S—A U—S—A” and waving American flags.

After midnight on Monday, the throng had filled the street in front and was spilling into Lafayette Park. People rode there on bikes and some brought dogs and took pictures.

Legislative aide Will Ditto was getting ready to go to bed at his place on Capitol Hill when his mother called him with the news.

He called the terrorist leader’s death “huge.”

Twenty—year—old Alex Washofsky came despite finals on Monday at George Washington University. He’s also a member of the Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps.

He said former President George Bush said the U.S. would get Bin Laden dead or alive, “and we did it.”