Hamza bin Laden, 30, was a high-ranking official in al-Qaeda - the group behind the devastating 9/11 attacks - and was dubbed the Crown Prince of Jihad.

The White House confirmed the news today after rumours circulated last month that he had been killed in a secret US mission.

A statement said: "Hamza bin Ladin, the high-ranking al-Qa'ida member and son of Usama bin Ladin, was killed in a United States counterterrorism operation in the Afghanistan/Pakistan region.

"The loss of Hamza bin Ladin not only deprives al-Qa'ida of important leadership skills and the symbolic connection to his father, but undermines important operational activities of the group.