Somalia Extremists Threat

SUMMARY:

In an hour long video released by an Al-Qaida linked terrorist group from Somalia on Saturday, Muslims were encouraged to attack shopping malls in the United States, Britain, and other western countries.  The terrorists in the video covered their faces with scarves, and also warned Kenya of another attack like the one of 2013 that resulted in the deaths of 67 people.

In the video, the terrorists specified malls such as the Mall of America in Minneapolis, the Westfield Mall in Stratford, England etc., and urged muslims to attack these malls.  The Department of Homeland Security and the FBI could not verify the authenticity of the video, but they have placed extra security precautions at the Mall of America and also told citizens to take extra caution.  Kenya has dismissed the terrorists’ video all together.

ANALYSIS:

I’ve realized that more and more terrorists are beginning to hide behind their computer screens.  First ISIS with many horrific videos of torturing and killing their prisoners, but now threats from an al-Qaida based group known as al-Shabab.  “Secretary Jeh Johnson called the video ‘the new phase’ of the global terrorist threat”.  Terrorists feel more confident behind a computer, making it easy to believe that their threats are real, when in actuality, they could be acting alone, or have no action to carry out, they are just causing trouble because they can.  

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

It is important to take all terrorism threats seriously, but how serious should we take virtual threats?

Do you believe these threats are just as serious as actual physical acts of terroism?

LINK TO ARTICLE:

http://news.yahoo.com/somalia-extremists-urge-attacks-western-shopping-malls-180611400.html