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.