Britons welcome killing of bin Laden
New research by Ipsos shows that 87% of Britons believe the killing of Osama bin Laden was justified.
New research by Ipsos shows that 87% of Britons believe the killing of Osama bin Laden was justified. The latest Global @dvisor survey conducted in 22 countries worldwide showed three quarters (76%) of those surveyed believe the US was justified in seeking out and killing Bin Laden with 95% of Americans supporting the action.
However, around half of Britons (49%) believe that as a result of Osama bin Laden’s death there will be more al-Qaida attacks in the future. The survey showed Great Britain to be among the most fearful countries, with only South Koreans more fearful of increased attacks.
In contrast to the British public, only a third of Americans (35%) believe there will be an increased number of al-Qaida attacks.
A third of Britons (36%) now feel less safe overall but most feel it will make no difference (54%).
Managing Director of Ipsos, Bobby Duffy, said
“Osama bin Laden was responsible for the death of thousands, so it’s no surprise that there is strong support for the US in seeking him out and killing him. Of course this didn’t mark the end of the terror threat and it is understandable that people are concerned about the possibility reprisals.”
Technical Note
Ipsos Global @advisor is a monthly online survey conducted by Ipsos via the Ipsos Online Panel system in 24 countries around the world. The countries reporting herein are Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Great Britain, Germany, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and the United States of America. For the results of the survey presented herein, an international sample of 18,787 adults aged 18-64 in the US and Canada, and age 16-64 in all other countries, were interviewed. Approximately 1000+ individuals participated on a country by country basis via the Ipsos Online Panel with the exception of Argentina, Belgium, Indonesia, Mexico, Poland, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden and Turkey, where each have a sample approximately 500+. Weighting was employed to balance demographics and ensure the sample's composition reflects that of the adult population according to the most recent country Census data available and to provide results intended to approximate the sample universe, (in the small number of developing countries where access to the internet is limited respondents are more likely to be affluent and well connected than the average member of the population.)
