Terrorist group al-Shabab calls for attacks on shopping malls, including Mall of America

WASHINGTON, Feb. 22 (UPI) — Somali terrorist group al-Shabab released a video calling for attacks on western shopping malls, including Minnesota’s Mall of America in Minneapolis.

Malls in Canada and England were also named specifically by al-Shabab for attacks by domestic terrorists.

Al-Shabab, an al-Qaida affiliate since 2012, imposes strict Islamic law in the areas it controls within Somalia and frequently carries out attacks, including the 2013 Westgate shopping mall attack in Kenya in which at least 67 people were killed.

“If just a handful of mujahedin fighters could bring Kenya to a complete stand-still for nearly a week, then imagine what a dedicated mujahedin in the West could do to the American or Jewish-owned shopping centers across the world,” an unidentified man in the al-Shabab video said. “What if such an attack was to occur in the Mall of America in Minnesota? Or the West Edmonton Mall in Canada? Or in London’s Oxford Street?”

Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson said the global war on terror has entered a “new phase” and urged the public to be “vigilant.”

“Groups like ISIL [Islamic State], al-Shabab, AQAP (al-Qaida of the Arabian Peninsula) are now publicly calling for attacks either through the Internet, through videos, through publications,” Johnson said to ABC News. “Which means that we need to respond militarily but we also have to have a whole government approach through law enforcement, homeland security and frankly countering violent extremism efforts here in the homeland in communities.”

Security has been increased at the Mall of America, which is one of the largest shopping malls in the world and has more than 40 million annual visitors.

“The safety and security of our guests, employees and tenants remains our top priority,” a statement released by mall officials said.

The mall employs about 100 security personnel including undercover agents and K9 units.

The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security have been working with malls to prevent and weaken any attacks, according to a spokesperson for the National Security Council.