( CNN ) -- World leaders and jubilant Americans on Monday acclaimed the news of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden 's death in a raid by U.S. military forces on a compound in Pakistan . But the chatter on the radical websites that bin Laden 's terrorist network used to speak to the world mourned his passing with an edge of defiance , celebrating him as a martyr and vowing al Qaeda will continue despite its leader 's death . `` Congratulations for dying as a martyr and a fighter in the sake of Allah , '' one poster wrote . `` We wo n't cry today , but we will revenge . Men and women in America will cry . '' another post read , echoing warnings from Western leaders that the terrorist network will almost certainly move to avenge bin Laden 's death . The sites , frequented by radical Islamists who subscribed to bin Laden 's philosophies , have played a significant role in attracting and radicalizing potential terror recruits and the broader radical Islamist community and have been frequently used by al Qaeda and its affiliates to broadcast statements . Video and audio messages purported to be from bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri , his second-in-command , have shown up for years on jihadist websites to exhort followers to keep the faith and continue their fight against the West . Many of the Web posters on Monday reacted to bin Laden 's death by referring to him as a `` shaheed , '' or martyr . One was headlined `` The Lion of Jihad was killed in a fierce battle . '' Some mourned . `` Teary eyes and sad hearts go out to you , the dearest and most noble of people . '' one poster wrote . Others celebrated bin Laden 's death as a promotion of sorts . `` May Allah increase your rank in Jannah o Sheikh Osama ! '' one poster wrote . Jannah can be translated as `` paradise . '' `` May Allah give you a place next to our beloved Prophet ( saws ) , amen amen , '' wrote another . `` Saws '' is an abbreviation for the phrase meaning `` peace be upon him . '' Not everyone could believe what they were hearing . `` The news came down on my ears this morning like thunderbolt , '' one poster commented . Another simply hoped the reports were lies . Web messages attributed to bin Laden have touched on several issues . He urged Muslims to tackle famine and other problems plaguing parts of the Muslim world and made assorted threats against the West . The speaker made reference to a range of jihadi battlegrounds , such as Somalia , Iraq , Afghanistan , Israel and the Palestinian territories , . Messages had been posted as late as January 21 , when an audiotape of a man purported to be bin Laden said the release of two French journalists abducted by militants hinged on France 's military role in Afghanistan . `` We repeat the same message to you , '' said the speaker in an audiotape played on the Al-Jazeera satellite news network . `` The release of your prisoners from the hands of our brethren depends on the withdrawal of your soldiers from our countries . '' The speaker warned the French government that its alliance with the United States will prove costly . Taliban militants captured the journalists -- Herve Ghesquiere and Stephane Taponier from France 3 Television -- in December 2009 and threatened to kill them if France did not meet their demands , which included the release of some detainees held by France . It is believed the two remain in Taliban custody . Bin Laden also gave interviews and made statements and videos before the September 11 , 2001 , attacks .
Radical Islamic websites ring with praise of bin Laden . ` ` We wo n't cry today , but we will revenge , '' one poster wrote . The U.S. government has been trying to track down the whereabouts and activities of Bin Laden, who was killed in a raid by Navy SEALs on May 2, 2011, at his compound near Abbottabad, Pakistan.