al-Shabaab Names Mall of America, West Edmonton Mall, and London's Oxford Street as Future Terrorist - Polidicks

[quote]A terror group linked to al Qaeda released an online video Saturday in which the group appears to call for attacks on Western malls. Islamic terrorist group al-Shabaab specifically named the Mall of America in Minnesota, the West Edmonton Mall in Alberta, Canada, and London's Oxford Street. Federal law enforcement officials told CBS News that they are investigating the video. In 2013, the Somali-based group claimed responsibility for an attack on an upscale shopping mall in Kenya. More than 60 people were killed in the four-day siege when attackers stormed the Westgate Mall in Nairobi. CBS News correspondent Charlie D'Agata reports that the video released Saturday begins with the focus on the 2013 attack. It is a documentary-style video that runs more than an hour long, focusing on Kenyan forces and their intervention into Somalia. The group is essentially saying if militants can attack a mall in Nairobi then others can attack targets elsewhere, D'Agata reports. Al-Shabaab in the past has been considered a local or regional threat, D'Agata reports. It is thought that this is the first time it has made a direct threat against the United States.[/quote] [url]http://www.cbsnews.com/news/al-shabaab-attacks-minnesotas-mall-of-america/[/url]

I wouldn't be too worried about them carrying out any attacks on us. They have been a regional threat in Africa thus far but I don't see them making any significant moves towards attacking us domestically. Now if they threatened an embassy I would probably take that more seriously.

They said this to disrupt commerce, nothing new.

Thanks for the heads up, I guess.

I didn't know Target has ventured into terrorism.. Glad they are opening new stores though.

[QUOTE=Bradyns;47190207]I didn't know Target has ventured into terrorism.. Glad they are opening new stores though.[/QUOTE] They've jihad enough of high retail prices, and bringing savings to you! [editline]22nd February 2015[/editline] [quote]On Jan. 22, three Somali nationals were killed when a suicide car bomber blew himself up at the gate of a hotel housing the advance party of the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who visited the country days later.[/quote] I wonder if the bomber jumped the gun or didn't know that "advance party" meant the president wasn't there yet.

A mall? Really? Welcome to 1996, fellas.

[QUOTE=Used Car Salesman;47191358]A mall? Really? Welcome to 1996, fellas.[/QUOTE] Welcome to a nice and densely populated target still, a mall shooting on the right day would be disastrous.

I live less than 10 miles away from the MoA though :c [QUOTE=Used Car Salesman;47191358]A mall? Really? Welcome to 1996, fellas.[/QUOTE] You mean the largest mall in America? The mall that still gets tens of thousands of people passing pretty much daily? The mall that gets hundreds or even thousands of kids daily to go to Nickelodeon Universe / The Aquarium / any other attraction it has? Like MattSif said, a shooting at the right time would be disastrous. Whats sad is Minnesota is already a bit paranoid about terrorism, with the massive Somali population we have for some reason, and the checking for terrorist recruitment centers, etc. edit: at least the MoA is cracking down on it by increasing security and telling people to be careful if they go today.

remove al-Shabaab from power

[QUOTE=Megadave;47191720]remove al-Shabaab from power[/QUOTE]They already have been, they're a mere shadow of their former selves. They hold considerable chunks of southern Somalia, but it continually shrinks.

Al-Shabaab is trying to stay relevant, they've taken a pretty good beating from AMISOM. They've lost most of their territory and capabilities. I'd be surprised if they could carry out another Westgate in Africa, let alone anywhere else in the world.

Good luck with the MOA. They have their shit in a line.

I heard the relevent part of the video on CBC and it sounded less like they specifically targeted those malls but just mentioned them as examples (they're big and internationally known. Who the fuck will know some butts mall like Metrotown or Tulalip?). I would not be concerned about any attacks.It's just people collectively losing shit because they said something.

They're just jealous that we have better malls than they do.

[QUOTE=Code3Response;47195184]Good luck with the MOA. They have their shit in a line.[/QUOTE] All I know about their Security is Mall Cops and I thought that was great. They had an ex-Israeli Defense Force guy working Counter-Terrorism and a K9 handler along with a police sub-station in the mall. I don't know why they wouldn't invest in an armed guard or two as well. Likewise I think another place an armed security team would be good is (bare with me) Disney World. Imagine someone attacking Disney World? Full of children and families. An attack like that would cause some serious panic nationwide and an armed guard team would at least help deter or prevent a massacre. They make enough money to afford them.

There was a bunch of security when I went a few days ago, and that was before the threat. I doubt anything too damaging will happen, if at all. At the very least, wait a week so I can go and buy some more warm clothes for this damn weather.

good thing I shop online

It's all a trick. They're actually going to attack the Mall of Canada, East Edmonton Mall, and London's Oxford Road!

[QUOTE=JCDentonUNATCO;47195322]It's all a trick. They're actually going to attack the Mall of Canada, East Edmonton Mall, and London's Oxford Road![/QUOTE] Which means they're gonna attack Canada twice and leave us alone to shop in peace. God bless America.

[QUOTE=Amez;47189621]I wouldn't be too worried about them carrying out any attacks on us. They have been a regional threat in Africa thus far but I don't see them making any significant moves towards attacking us domestically. Now if they threatened an embassy I would probably take that more seriously.[/QUOTE] That's what al-Qaeda looked like in 2000, just a regional threat. Terrorist attacks are easier to pull off than you might think. It might be bluster. It might be an actual threat. It might be bluster to distract us from an actual attack. At the end of the day, all their words *definitely* mean is that they consider us an enemy, which isn't exactly news.

This shit scares me cause I work at Southdale, which is another mall in MN that's got a lot of commerce going in and out of it. While smaller than MoA, it's historic and was pretty much the first mall ever, so it could be a secondary target. No doubt security's gonna be tight all around the metro now. fuck me. [editline]23rd February 2015[/editline] [QUOTE=Used Car Salesman;47191358]A mall? Really? Welcome to 1996, fellas.[/QUOTE] the mall of america is constantly PACKED with people. it was absolute anarchy last christmas. this is the kinda mall that needs 4 different parking ramps with 6-7 floors on each for saturdays and shit. plus, it's right in the middle of a busy place with multiple hotels and other shopping centers, such as the water park at MoA, that big ass IKEA, and a big office building that's going in place as of recent that's not even 10 feet away from the the front doors. and there's a [I]mother-fucking indoor theme park[/I] filled with children and families every day. don't laugh this shit off. it's all we've got during winter cause everywhere else is either an ice rink (literal and figuratively) or ridgedale. we don't go to ridgedale. [editline]23rd February 2015[/editline] the point is im super patriotic about mn nobody fucks with my home state NOBODY

[QUOTE=Gamerman12;47195385] the mall of america is constantly PACKED with people. it was absolute anarchy last christmas. this is the kinda mall that needs 4 different parking ramps with 6-7 floors on each for saturdays and shit. plus, it's right in the middle of a busy place with multiple hotels and other shopping centers, such as the water park at MoA, that big ass IKEA, and a big office building that's going in place as of recent that's not even 10 feet away from the the front doors. and there's a [I]mother-fucking indoor theme park[/I] filled with children and families every day. don't laugh this shit off. it's all we've got during winter cause everywhere else is either an ice rink (literal and figuratively) or ridgedale. we don't go to ridgedale. [editline]23rd February 2015[/editline] the point is im super patriotic about mn nobody fucks with my home state NOBODY[/QUOTE] I think that office building you are talking about is actually the MOA expansion off the north side.

[QUOTE=Code3Response;47197150]I think that office building you are talking about is actually the MOA expansion off the north side.[/QUOTE] Maybe, all I know is that last week when I was there, it said "Offices at MOA" on a poster on the side.

[QUOTE=Gamerman12;47195385]This shit scares me cause I work at Southdale, which is another mall in MN that's got a lot of commerce going in and out of it. While smaller than MoA, it's historic and was pretty much the first mall ever, so it could be a secondary target. No doubt security's gonna be tight all around the metro now. fuck me. [editline]23rd February 2015[/editline] the mall of america is constantly PACKED with people. it was absolute anarchy last christmas. this is the kinda mall that needs 4 different parking ramps with 6-7 floors on each for saturdays and shit. plus, it's right in the middle of a busy place with multiple hotels and other shopping centers, such as the water park at MoA, that big ass IKEA, and a big office building that's going in place as of recent that's not even 10 feet away from the the front doors. and there's a [I]mother-fucking indoor theme park[/I] filled with children and families every day. don't laugh this shit off. it's all we've got during winter cause everywhere else is either an ice rink (literal and figuratively) or ridgedale. we don't go to ridgedale. [editline]23rd February 2015[/editline] the point is im super patriotic about mn nobody fucks with my home state NOBODY[/QUOTE] it's really surreal seeing other people from mn on here like a lot of my friends work at the amc at southdale, and i go to the moa almost weekly

Call me paranoid but they really need to step up the security on Oxford street - It has to be one of the busiest streets in the UK in terms of rammed pedestrians on the pavements. Cars can easily access/drive up and down the road and there's no bollards/protection stopping a car from mounting the pavement. All it takes is a messed up guy with a car as well - no prior planning or anything would be needed.