Somalia Terrorists Urge Attacks on U.S. Shopping Malls

JOHANNESBURG (AP) —

A video purported to be by Somalia’s al-Qaida-linked rebel group al-Shabab urged Muslims to attack shopping malls in the U.S., Canada, Britain and other Western countries.

In the video, released late Saturday, the terrorist group again said its September 2013 attack on the Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya, was in reprisal for Kenyan military involvement in Somalia. Sixty-seven people died in the attack. The video, using footage from major news organizations, showed the assault on the mall.

The masked narrator of the 76-minute video warned of more attacks in Kenya and concluded by calling on Muslims to attack shopping malls, specifically mentioning the Mall of America in Minnesota, the West Edmonton Mall in Canada and the Westfield mall in Stratford, England.

The authenticity of the video could not be immediately verified by The Associated Press.

Speaking on morning talks shows in the U.S., Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, called the video “the new phase” of the global terrorist threat and said the U.S. took such threats seriously.

Asked specifically about the Mall of America, Johnson said, “Any time a terrorist organization calls for an attack on a specific place we’ve got to take that seriously. What we’re telling the public is you’ve got to be vigilant. … There will be enhanced security there that will be apparent … but public vigilance, public awareness and public caution in situations like this is particularly important. It’s the environment we’re in.”

The Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, and the Edmonton Mall both issued statements saying they have increased security.

To Read The Full Story

Are you already a subscriber?
Click to log in!