Westfield shopping centres targeted by Al Shabaab

• published: 23 Feb 2015
• views: 14

West Edmonton Mall named in al-Shabaab video as possible target (CBC) The al-Qaeda-linked group al-Shabaab appears to call on followers to attack shopping malls in the United States, U.K., France, and Canada and has released a video naming West Edmonton Mall as a possible target. ■Somalia's al-Shabaab militant group: 7 things to know ■Kenya mall attack: Most hostages freed, military says Most of the recording posted to YouTube on Saturday glorifies the attack by the Somalia-based group on the Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya, where gunmen killed about 60 people in September 2013. Close to the end of the nearly 77-minute video, a masked man with an English accent calls on "Muslim brothers to target the disbelievers wherever they are" and lists a number of shopping centres that could be attacked in the West. "If just a handful of mujahedeen fighters could bring Kenya to a complete standstill for nearly a week, then imagine what a dedicated mujahedeen in the West could do to the American or Jewish-owned shopping centres across the world," the man says. "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, or any of the hundred or so Jewish-owned Westfield shopping centres dotted right across the western world?" he continues. Other malls listed in the video include two in Paris, Les Quatre Temps and Forum des Halles. ■Edmonton Somali group wants Harper's help to prevent ISIS recruitment CNN reports that al-Shabaab militants have recruited members in Minneapolis, home to the largest Somali population in the United States and the Mall of America. On March 7, 2010, the Canadian government added al-Shabaab to the country's terrorist list, following claims that the organization is targeting Canadian youth for recruitment. Edmonton mall tightens security Alberta RCMP Staff Sgt. Brent Meyer said the force is aware of the report of a possible threat and is investigating. "While the exact content and authenticity of such a reported video is being actively pursued by the RCMP in Alberta with our local policing partners, as well as the RCMP nationally and our international national security partners, there is no evidence at this time of any specific or imminent threat to Canadians," Meyer said in a statement Sunday. "The safety and security of all Canadians in Edmonton and across the country is of the utmost importance to the RCMP and all policing services and we take this threat to our national security very seriously," Meyer added. The West Edmonton Mall also issued a statement Sunday, saying it will "continue to monitor events" with the help of law enforcement agencies. "West Edmonton Mall has implemented extra security precautions; some may be noticeable to guests, and others won't be," the statement said. video footage caught on tape cellphone camera surveillance raw dash cam air live on tv share comment like most popular Al Shabaab to Attack West Edmonton, Minnesota, Oxford St. ... Malls in Canada -ORIGINAL VEDIO- Al Shabaab to Attack West Edmonton, Minnesota, Oxford St. ... Malls in Canada -ORIGINAL VEDIO- Al Shabaab to Attack West Edmonton, Minnesota, Oxford St. ... Malls in Canada, US, UK in VIDEO Al Shabaab to Attack West Edmonton, Minnesota, Oxford St. ... Malls in Canada, US, UK in VIDEO Islamic terrorists al-Shabab call for attack on West Edmonton Mall- VIDEO Islamic terrorists al-Shabab call for attack on West Edmonton Mall- VIDEO