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Madeleine Baran

Mall of America increases security after being named in apparent al-Shabab video

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The Mall of America
The Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn., is the largest shopping mall in the U.S., with more than 40 million visitors a year.
Timo Gans | AFP | Getty Images

Updated: 8:52 p.m. | Posted: 6:34 p.m.

A video purportedly released by Somalia-based terror group al-Shabab calls for attacks on the Mall of America and other shopping centers in Canada and England.

The nearly 77-minute video, released online, focused mostly on the conflict between Kenya and Somalia and the deadly attack in 2013 at the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi, Kenya. Al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for the Westgate attack, in which more than 60 people died.

At the end of the video, an unidentified man dressed in camouflage, with his face covered, calls for similar attacks at the Mall of America and elsewhere.

"If just a handful of mujahideen fighters could bring Kenya to a complete stand-still for nearly a week, then imagine what a dedicated mujahideen in the West could do to the American or Jewish-owned shopping centers across the world," the man said. "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?"

He said, "What would be the implications of such an attack? One could only imagine. And all it takes is a man with firm determination ..."

Mall of America released a statement in response to the video:

"Mall of America is aware of a threatening video that was released which included a mention and images of the Mall. We take any potential threat seriously and respond appropriately. We have implemented extra security precautions. Some may be noticeable to guests, and others won't be. We will continue to follow the situation, along with the federal, state and local law enforcement and will remain vigilant as we always do in similar situations."

A spokesman for the FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment.