United States Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson has reportedly said that the Al Shabab’s call for “lone wolf” terror on western shopping centres reflected a “new phase” in the global terrorist threat, a report said.
While noting that groups like the Islamic State ( IS), Al Shabab, AQAP (al Qaeda of the Arabian Peninsula) were now calling for ” lone wolf attacks” through videos, publications, internet, Johnson stressed on the need to develop a new counter-terrorism approach, reported ABC News.
He said that apart from a military response, it was also important to “have a whole government approach through law enforcement, homeland security and frankly countering violent extremism efforts here in the homeland in communities.”
A video released by Somalia-based Al Shabab urged supporters to attack “American or Jewish-owned” shopping centres in the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom. It specifically named Minnesota’s Mall of America, the second-largest U.S. shopping centre, and Canada’s West Edmonton Mall, as well as London’s Oxford Street and the U.K. capital’s two Westfield shopping centres. Co-ordinates for the various targets were listed on the screen as they were described.
Meanwhile, the Mall of America , one of the largest shopping malls in the United States, issued a statement saying that it had stepped-up security in the wake of the threat. (ANI)