Scary! SOMALI terror group Al-Shabaab targets major shopping centres in Canada, the UK and America.

This is so scary! Now I am in fear for the safety of me and my family. I hope this threat is taken seriously and authorities are able to crack down these evil doers soon.

See story as reported by news.com.au

SOMALI terror group Al-Shabaab has released a video calling for attacks on major shopping centres in Canada, the UK and America.

The militants called on followers to “hasten to heaven” by attacking malls including Westfield shopping centres, shops on London’s Oxford St, the Mall of America in Minnesota and Jewish-owned centres. The al Qaeda-linked group was responsible for the deadly Nairobi, Kenya mall attack in 2013 that left 62 people dead and more than 100 injured.

While US Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson warned Americans to be “particularly careful” if shopping this weekend, FBI spokesman Rich Quinn told CNN “there is no indication of any specific, real threat” against shopping malls. He said “there is no doubt Al-Shabaab would like to carry out an attack on a US mall, but they are in a pretty weakened state.”

Mr Johnson said federal authorities are taking the threat “seriously” and asked Americans to be more vigilant. He said the threat, much like the social media calls from ISIS, represents “the new phase” in the war on terror where foreign terrorists call for domestic sympathisers to carry out attacks in their hometowns.



“We’re beyond the phase now where these groups would send foreign operatives into countries after being trained some place,” Mr Johnson said.  A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said: “The MPS Counter Terrorism Command is aware of the video and is assessing the content. We remind the public that downloading extremist material may constitute an offence.”

The video surfaced just as the White House wrapped up its three-day summit on combating violent extremism and radicalisation of young people. President Barack Obama took heat for not calling such terrorists “Islamic extremists” and therefore not fully acknowledging the threat. Mr Johnson defended the language choice. No matter what you call them, ISIS is “a dangerous terrorist organisation that has to be dealt with, ”

Mr Johnson said on “Fox News Sunday.” The concern is Muslim Americans say they “resent” ISIS for tying to “hijack” their peaceful religion, Mr Johnson said. Calling the terrorists Islamic “gives the group more dignity than it deserves,” he said.