Somalia extremists urge attacks on Western malls

Shopping venues in Minnesota, Canada mentioned in video.

JOHANNESBURG — A video purported to be by Somalia’s alQaida-linked rebel group alShabab urges Muslims to attack shopping malls in the U.S., Canada, Britain and other Western countries.

The threat came in the final minutes of a more than hourlong video in which the extremists also warned Kenya of more attacks like the September 2013 assault on the Westgate Mall in Nairobi that left 67 people dead.

The masked narrator concluded by calling on Muslims to attack shopping malls, specifically naming the Mall of America in suburban Minneapolis, as well as the West Edmonton Mall in Canada and the Westfield mall in Stratford, England.

Speaking on morning talk shows in the U.S., Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson called the video “the new phase” of the global terrorist threat and warned the public to be vigilant.

“These groups are relying more and more on independent actors to become inspired, drawn to the cause and they’ll attack on their own,” Johnson said, speaking on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

“I am very concerned about serious potential threats of independent actors here in the United States. We’ve seen this now in Europe, we’ve seen this in Canada.”

Asked about the specific threat against 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.”

In the slickly produced video posted online, a masked man declared: “Westgate was just the beginning.”

“What if such an attack were to occur in the Mall of America in Minnesota? Or the West Edmonton Mall in Canada? Or in London’s Oxford Street?” said the man, who appeared to be of Somali origin.

The Mall of America, one of the nation’s largest, said in a statement that it was “aware of a threatening video which includes a mention and images of the mall,” and said extra securi- ty had been put in place.

Shoppers seemed undeterred Sunday by the threat.

“I’m more afraid of the cold today than any terrorists,” said Mary Lamminen, of St. Paul.

David Modrynski said he talked with his wife and son about whether to visit the mall after hearing about the video. “But we can’t stop living our lives because somebody says they’re going to do something,” Modrynski said.

While al-Shabab has carried out attacks in neighboring Kenya, Uganda and Djibouti, which all have troops fighting the extremists as part of the multinational African Union force, the al-Qaida affiliate has never operated outside East Africa and the Horn of Africa.

Minnesota, home to the largest Somali population in the U.S., has been the target of terror recruiters in the past.

JERRY HOLT / STAR TRIBUNE The Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn., one of the nation’s largest, said in a statement that it was “aware of a threatening video which includes a mention and images of the mall,” and said extra security had been put in place.