MOA Strengthens Security Following Video Threat
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – The Mall of America is beefing up security after the terror group that carried out a deadly attack at an African shopping mall called for a similar mission on shopping venues in Canada, the U.K. and the U.S.
The call for violence, released in a video on Saturday, specifically mentioned the Mall of America in Bloomington.
Al-Shabaab, a group linked to al-Qaida, released the video. Along with the Mall of America, it named West Edmonton Mall in Canada and London's Oxford Street as potential targets.
The video highlighted the group's 2013 attack at the Westgate Mall in Nairobi, where more than 60 people died.
The Mall of America has since responded to the video, saying it is monitoring the threat with the help of federal and local authorities. It added that the mall has implemented extra security precautions. Shoppers may notice some of those changes, others may not be obvious.
The West Edmonton Mall also says it's beefing up security.
On Sunday, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson told CNN that shoppers in Minnesota, and across the country, should be vigilant.
"If anyone is planning to go to the Mall of America today (Sunday), they've got to be particularly careful," he said.
Since then, Sen. Amy Klobuchar has said that Johnson's office has softened the secretary's statement. She said that authorities are not telling shoppers to avoid the mall, adding that state law enforcement has been effective at shutting down the efforts of al-Shabaab.
"This isn't the first time [al-Shabaab] has singled out our state, our community," Klobuchar said.
Gov. Mark Dayton has also issued a statement, saying he's monitoring the situation and is in talks with the Department of Public Safety as well as federal officials. He said local, federal and state groups are working together to keep the mall safe.
According to the FBI, al-Shabaab is recruiting in Minnesota, specifically targeting the Somali community.
An FBI agent spoke at a White House counter-terrorism summit on Wednesday, joined by dozens of other advocates from Minnesota as well as Boston and Los Angeles in rolling out a program to stop extremists from successfully recruiting in the states.
At that summit, it was learned that al-Shabaab is encouraging Somalis in Minnesota through videos and social media to either join the fight overseas or to conduct attacks in the United States.
The documentary-style video released by al-Shabaab Saturday is more than an hour long.
In it, an English-speaking man wearing a face mask and camouflage jacket calls on Muslims to show disbelievers what can be done to shopping centers around the world. He essentially says if militants can attack a mall in Kenya, others can attack targets elsewhere.
"What if such an attack was to occur in the Mall of America in Minnesota, London's Oxford Street," the man says. "What would be the implications of such an attack? One could only imagine. All it takes is a man of firm determination."
The Bloomington Police Department issued a statement Sunday in partnership with the FBI, Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, Metro Transit Police and the Mall of America. The police department said at this time, there is no credible threat associated with the Mall of America.
The statement said they take all security concerns seriously and have responded appropriately. Enhanced security measures have been implemented and all information is being monitored. Officials said the Mall of America remains a very safe place and employs an extensive, well-trained professional security force that patrols and monitors activity with a 24-hour presence.