--- description: Mall of America visitors should be "careful" after an Islamist militant group singled it out for attacks, Homeland Security Jeh Johnson said title: Homeland Security Chief Warns Mall of America Shoppers After Threat image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt5dd04e65373b4cd6/6987806ee20a87b429a853b7/jeh-johnson-mall-of-america-terror.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [U.S.](/section/us/) ## U.S. Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [National Security](/tag/national-security/) ## National Security Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Homeland Security Chief Warns Mall of America Shoppers After Threat ## Video: Jeh Johnson - Threats Against U.S. Malls [Watch (HLS stream): Jeh Johnson - Threats Against U.S. Malls](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/sAhTS7JQ.m3u8) (0:32)  _Published 2015-02-23. Jeh Johnson warned visitors to the Mall of America to remain vigilent after Islamic extremist group al-Shabaab issued threats against the Minnesota shopping centre._  by [Justin Worland](/author/justin-worland/)  ## Justin Worland Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Senior Correspondent Feb 22, 2015 7:51 PM CUT  BLOOMINGTON, MN - JULY 16: (FEATURE STORY ON THE MALL OF AMERICA, 11 OF 15) A large sign hangs above an entrance to the Mall of America July 16, 2002 in Bloomington, Minnesota. The Mall of America is the largest shopping mall in the United States, seeing between 35 and 42 million visitors each year and employing more than 12,000 people. Approximately 520 stores occupy the mall's 4.2 million square feet. The Mall of America will celebrate its 10th anniversary this August. (Photo by Mark Erickson/Getty Images) BLOOMINGTON, MN - JULY 16: (FEATURE STORY ON THE MALL OF AMERICA, 11 OF 15) A large sign hangs above an entrance to the Mall of America July 16, 2002 in Bloomington, Minnesota. The Mall of America is the largest shopping mall in the United States, seeing between 35 and 42 million visitors each year and employing more than 12,000 people. Approximately 520 stores occupy the mall's 4.2 million square feet. The Mall of America will celebrate its 10th anniversary this August. (Photo by Mark Erickson/Getty Images)Mark Erickson—Getty Images  by [Justin Worland](/author/justin-worland/)  ## Justin Worland Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Senior Correspondent Feb 22, 2015 7:51 PM CUT Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson [warned](http://edition.cnn.com/2015/02/21/us/al-shabaab-calls-for-mall-attacks/index.html "undefined") visitors to the Mall of America on Sunday to remain vigilant after the massive shopping center near Minneapolis was singled out for attacks in a new video posted by an Islamist extremist group. Somalia-based al-Shabab, which claimed responsibility for the deadly siege at the Westgate shopping center in Nairobi in 2013, called for terrorist attacks against malls in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada. “If anyone is planning to go to the Mall of America today, they’ve got to be particularly careful,” Johnson said on CNN’s _State of the Union_. “There will be enhanced security there, but public vigilance, public awareness and public caution in situations like this is particularly important.” FBI spokesman Rich Quinn said “there is no indication of any specific, real threat” against American malls. Still, Tanya Bradsher, assistant secretary for public affairs at the Department of Homeland Security, aimed to clarify Johnson’s remarks: “Sec. Johnson didn’t say that they should not go to the mall, he told shoppers to be extra vigilant and that security was increased.” \[[_CNN_](http://edition.cnn.com/2015/02/21/us/al-shabaab-calls-for-mall-attacks/index.html "undefined")\] ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3717856/mall-of-america-terrorism-jeh-johnson/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3717856/mall-of-america-terrorism-jeh-johnson/"},"headline":"Homeland Security Chief Warns Mall of America Shoppers After Threat","datePublished":"2015-02-22T19:51:10.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-22T04:36:38.220Z","description":"FBI says there is \"no indication\" of any specific threat","url":"https://time.com/3717856/mall-of-america-terrorism-jeh-johnson/","keywords":["National Security","Terrorism","Al-Shabaab"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt5dd04e65373b4cd6/6987806ee20a87b429a853b7/jeh-johnson-mall-of-america-terror.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Justin Worland","jobTitle":"Senior Correspondent","url":"https://time.com/author/justin-worland/"}],"articleSection":"U.S.","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt5dd04e65373b4cd6/6987806ee20a87b429a853b7/jeh-johnson-mall-of-america-terror.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Mall of America","caption":"BLOOMINGTON, MN - JULY 16: (FEATURE STORY ON THE MALL OF AMERICA, 11 OF 15) A large sign hangs above an entrance to the Mall of America July 16, 2002 in Bloomington, Minnesota. 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