Quirky News
Theme park plan for bin Laden town
Officials in the town where Osama bin Laden was killed are planning to build a multi-million pound theme park.
The 500-acre development in Abbottabad, Pakistan will include a zoo, heritage centre, restaurants and artificial waterfalls.
The local government denies it is a bid to polish the town's image and hopes the riverside project will boost tourism, reports The Sun.
The provincial minister for tourism and sports, Syed Aqil Shah, said: "The amusement city will be built on 50 acres in the first phase but later will be extended to 500 acres.
"It will have a heritage park, wildlife zoo, food street, adventure and paragliding clubs, waterfalls and jogging tracks."
The minister insisted: "This project has nothing to do with Osama bin Laden." Work on the £19.5m development is due to start this month.
US special forces shot dead the al-Qaeda leader in Abbottabad in May 2011. Bin Laden's compound was demolished a year ago, to prevent it becoming a shrine.
what do you think?
Adrian Wagstaff
I think the Taleban might find such an idea extremely offensive. It might be seen as an insult to his life and death. I think there are probably other locations where a theme park could be similarly built, if that's what people want to do. I wouldn't want to design a theme park in such a place, then later on find someone blew everyone up there. It just seems like a very obvious risk.
James Dalby
What doesn't the taliban find extremely offensive? They are always angry at something apart from Islam & Muhammad!
andy johnson
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andy johnson
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Valerie Wood
Don't like them having a zoo there - why should animals be dragged into something that is a potential mine field?!!!!
Louisa Gieldon
1:27pm on 5/2/2013
!!!!!!!!!!!