OUTLET: WVEC

VIRGINIA BEACH – Shoppers across the country are being told to be vigilant. This after a Somali terrorist group with ties to Al Qaeda released new video, threatening to attack western shopping malls.

The same group took responsibility for an attack at a mall in Kenya, back in 2013. More than 60 people were killed.

“I think it’s really sad, just like scary in general,” Virginia Beach resident Rebekah Reed said.

“I would be a little scared especially with my son,” Keith Cornman of Virginia Beach, Va. said.

Cornman says the threat is enough to keep his son from going to the mall, but for him, he’s willing to take the risk.

“I’m not going to stop going to the mall. When people come in, definitely take a second look at people just because of what’s going on,” he said.

Security expert Wheeler McDougal of Signal 88 Security warns shoppers to be extra vigilant, and don’t be surprised if your bag gets checked.

“They’re going to always be checking back packs, checking purses, large bags that come in. They’re going to be watching those groups of people as they progress through the malls,” he said.

Lynnhaven Mall and MacArthur mall say they can’t release the specifics of their security measures, but they’re well aware of the threats and are taking the matter very seriously.

“Keep looking out for things that are weird or different in the mall,” Elissa Conner of Virginia Beach, Va. said.

“They want to scare us and they’re not going to scare us because we’re an awesome country,” Reed said.

The video calls for attacks at Minnesota’s Mall of America and shopping malls in the U.S., Canada and Great Britain.

Homeland security officials said they aren’t aware of any credible plot against the Mall of America or any other domestic shopping center, but they are urging the public to be particularly vigilant.