WASHINGTON – Less than two weeks after the 2011 raid that killed Osama bin Laden, a top Pentagon official ordered all photos of bin Laden’s corpse be destroyed or turned over to the CIA, according to a newly released document.

In an e-mail dated May 13, 2011, Adm. William McRaven, the U.S. Special Operations commander, wrote: “One particular item that I want to emphasize is photos; particularly UBLs remains. At this point — all photos should have been turned over to the CIA; if you still have them destroy them immediately or get them to the (redacted).”

Shortly after the raid in Pakistan, President Obama said he would not authorize the release of any images of the al-Qaeda leader’s body.

In a unanimous ruling, a three-judge panel with the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington echoed the Obama administration’s argument that release of the photos might inflame anti-U.S. sentiment among Islamic radicals.

Days before the order to destroy the photos, watchdog group Judicial Watch and the Associated Press had separately filed a Freedom of Information Act requests for photos, videos and documents regarding bin Laden during the raid.

Typically, when a Freedom of Information Act request is filed to a government agency under the Federal Records Act, the agency is obliged to preserve the material sought — even if the agency later denies the request.

A CIA spokesman said at the time that “documents related to the raid were handled in a manner consistent with the fact that the operation was conducted under the direction of the CIA director.”