Police forces around the world are on alert after Somali extremists threatened to attack shopping centers in Britain, the US and Canada….with a specific threat made against Oxford Street and the two Westfield malls in London.
The threat was made in a new video released by al-Shabab, the Somali-based group that attacked the Westgate shopping center n Nairobi in 2013, killing 67 people.
Our Washington Correspondent Simon Marks says the Obama administration is taking the video seriously.
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When al-Shabaab threatens to attack shopping centers….the White House listens.
In the new videotape, an al-Shabaab militant makes specific threats to hit what he called "American and Jewish-owned shopping centers around the world".
He specifically cited Oxford Street and the two Westfield centers in London…..plus the enormous Mall of America in Minnesota and West Edmonton Mall in Canada.
President Obama's Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson told America's ABC News that US intelligence is taking the threat seriously.
AXX "The video that was released …..global terrorist threat".
Certainly when it comes to attacking shopping centers….al-Shabaab has form.
The organization claimed responsibility for the 2013 violent attack on the Westgate mall in Nairobi that left 67 people dead.
Mr. Johnson urged shoppers planning to visit the Mall of America in Minneapolis to proceed with caution - its management said it was immediately deploying additional security measures in light of the threat.
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In Canada, security officials held a series of briefings but said they did not believe there was an imminent threat to the city of Edmonton in Alberta.
The West Edmonton Mall is one of those mentioned in the al-Shabaab video.
Brian Simpson, is Deputy Chief of Police in the city.
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But al-Shabaab has certainly drawn the attention of authorities in Britain, the US and Canada with this video.
And security analysts say members of the public should keep their wits about them wherever they shop….noting that suporters of al-Shabaab won't necessarily target only those shopping centers listed on the organization's threatening video.
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