AL-SHABAB-SHOPPING MALLS
Somalia extremists urge attacks on US shopping malls
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — A video purported to be by Somalia’s al-Qaida-linked rebel group al-Shabab urges Muslims to attack shopping malls in the U.S., Canada, Britain and other Western countries.
But U.S. authorities say there is “no credible” evidence suggesting a U.S. mall attack is in the works.
The threat by the al-Qaida affiliate came in the final minutes of a more than hour-long video released Saturday in which the extremists also warned Kenya of more attacks like the September 2013 assault on the Westgate Mall in Nairobi in which 67 people were killed.
The masked narrator concluded by calling on Muslims to attack shopping malls, specifically naming the Mall of America in the Minneapolis suburb of Bloomington, as well as the West Edmonton Mall in Canada and the Westfield mall in Stratford, England.
The Bloomington Police Department issued a statement late Sunday in partnership with the FBI and state law enforcement saying federal, state and local agencies are aware of what it called the “recently released propaganda video.” It said there was “no credible threat” associated with Mall of America, though it said additional security measures are in place. The mall is one of the largest in the nation.
Sound:
202-w-34-(Ed Donahue, AP correspondent, with Elizabeth Rossow, shpper at Mall of America)–A video claiming to be from Somalia’s al-Qaida-linked rebel group al-Shabab has urged Muslims to attack shopping malls. And, as the AP’s Ed Donahue reports, one of those malls mentioned is in the U.S. (22 Feb 2015)
< 176-a-05-(Elizabeth Rossow (RAH’-soh), Mall of America shopper, in AP interview)-“coming here today”-Elizabeth Rossow, who’s shopping at Mall of America, says if there was a more specific threat about the mall, she might not have headed over. ((note “today” in cut refers to Sunday)) (22 Feb 2015) < 174-a-12-(Elizabeth Rossow (RAH’-soh), Mall of America shopper, in AP interview)-“extra security today”-Elizabeth Rossow, who’s shopping at Mall of America, says she hasn’t noticed extra security at the mall, despite the release of a terrorist video urging Muslims to attack shopping malls. (22 Feb 2015) < 173-a-10-(Elizabeth Rossow (RAH’-soh), Mall of America shopper, in AP interview)-“worried about anything”-Elizabeth Rossow, who’s shopping at Mall of America, says today doesn’t feel any different than any other day at the mall. (22 Feb 2015) < 163-c-16-(Andrew Meldrum, AP correspondent)-“attack shopping centers”-AP correspondent Andrew Meldrum reports this video was different from others attributed to the al Shabbab terror group. (22 Feb 2015) < 162-c-16-(Andrew Meldrum, AP correspondent)-“in Stratford, England”-AP correspondent Andrew Meldrum reports there were threats against shoppping malls in the U.S. and other countries in a new terror video tape. (22 Feb 2015) < 160-c-22-(Andrew Meldrum, AP correspondent)-“September of 2013”-AP correspondent Andrew Meldrum reports there is a new video out this weekend that has reportedly been released by the al Shabbab terror group. (22 Feb 2015) < 161-c-13-(Andrew Meldrum, AP correspondent)-“other western countries”-AP correspondent Andrew Meldrum reports a new video believed to be from the al Shabbab terror group includes a threat against western shopping malls. (22 Feb 2015) < SAUDI-TERRORISM Top Muslim sheikh urges new understanding to fight terror RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — The grand sheikh of Egypt’s Al-Azhar, Sunni Islam’s most respected seat of learning, says a historical misreading of the Quran and the life of the Prophet Muhammad have led to extremism among Muslims. Speaking at the opening of a Mecca conference titled “Islam and the fight against terrorism,” Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb condemned terrorism and called for religious curricula to be reformed to emphasize greater tolerance. He also warned of a conspiracy to “divide and conquer” Muslims that he said is being carried out by colonialists and Zionists. Saudi Arabia’s ruler said terrorists have given critics of Islam the opportunity to challenge the religion and view it negatively. King Salman’s remarks were delivered by Mecca’s governor Prince Khaled al-Faisal at the conference being held in the Muslim holy city in Saudi Arabia. RING OF PEACE 1,000 join Muslim ‘ring of peace’ outside Oslo synagogue COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — More than 1,000 people in Norway have spent part of their weekend forming a “ring of peace” outside Oslo’s main synagogue at the initiative of a group of young Muslims. The event in the Norwegian capital follows a series of attacks against Jews in Europe, including the terror attacks in Paris in January and in neighboring Denmark last week. One of the eight independent organizers of Saturday’s event said the gathering shows “that Islam is about love and unity.” Norwegian Chief Rabbi Michael Melchior sang the traditional Jewish end of Sabbath song outside the synagogue before the large crowd holding hands. Several European countries have seen an increase in anti-Semitic incidents recently, starting when the conflict between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza intensified last year. Sound: 119-r-23-(Sound of Jewish faithful singing in Hebrew, outside synagogue in Oslo)–Sound of Jewish faithful singing outside a synagogue in Oslo as over one thousand people have gathered to formed a “ring of peace” following a series of attacks against Jews in Europe. COURTESY: TV2 Norway ((mandatory on-air credit)) (22 Feb 2015) < 118-a-15-(Zeeshan (ZEE-shahn) Abdullah, “Ring of Peace” co-organizer, in remarks)-“three hundred people”-This co-organizer of “Ring of Peace” says he is surprised with the huge public response as locals gather to form a human shield around a synagogue. COURTESY: TV2 Norway ((mandatory on-air credit)) (22 Feb 2015) < VATICAN-POPE RETREAT Pope gets away from Vatican to work on correcting ‘defects’ VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis is getting away from the Vatican for a few days and taking his advisers along, to work, as he put it, on “correcting the many defects we all have.” Francis told tens of thousands of Romans, tourists and pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square that later Sunday he and top aides were starting a spiritual renewal retreat. Until Friday morning, they will spend time listening to reflections, meditating and praying in Ariccia, a Rome suburb. He didn’t list the “defects.” But in the nearly two years since becoming pontiff, Francis has put Vatican prelates on guard against careerism, arrogance, hypocrisy, corruption and being too judgmental instead of merciful. ITALY-AFGHANISTAN-JESUIT RELEASED Jesuits: Abducted Indian priest is released in Afghanistan ROME (AP) — The Jesuit religious order says an Indian priest who was abducted in western Afghanistan eight months ago has been released. James Stapleton, a Jesuit Refugee Service spokesman in Rome, said the Rev. Alexis Prem Kumar was released on Sunday and has since returned to his native India. Stapleton says the priest is “tired, he’s happy to be home.” Kumar was visiting a Jesuit Refugee Service-supported school near Herat when he was abducted by several armed men in June. OBIT-JOHN WILLKE Anti-abortion advocate Dr. John Willke dies at 89 in Ohio CINCINNATI (AP) — Dr. John Willke, an obstetrician who helped shape the modern anti-abortion movement, has died. According to his daughter, Willke died Friday at his home in Cincinnati. He was 89. Willke, who founded the International Right to Life Federation, quit delivering babies in the late 1960s to oppose abortion, He retired from his medical practice in 1988 to fully devote his time to the anti-abortion movement. He participated in protests and congressional hearings and appeared on national television frequently. He espoused the belief that a woman can resist conception from a sexual assault. But the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists issued a statement in 2012 that said a woman who is raped “has no control over ovulation, fertilization or implantation of a fertilized egg” and that to “suggest otherwise contradicts basic biological truths.” Willke and his late wife, Barbara, co-authored the “Handbook on Abortion,” providing information from an anti-abortion viewpoint. Anti-abortion activist Janet Folger Porter –head of Faith2Action — says Willke literally “wrote the book” for the “pro-life issue.” Sound: 263-a-03-(Janet Folger Porter, president, Faith2Action, in AP interview)-“pro-life issue, literally”-Faith2Action president Janet Folger Porter says Dr. Willke was the author of the movement because of his activism and his 1971 publication ‘Handbook on Abortion.’ (22 Feb 2015) < 262-a-09-(Janet Folger Porter, president, Faith2Action, in AP interview)-“in the womb”-Faith2Action president Janet Folger Porter says she wishes Dr. Willke could have seen his dream come true. (22 Feb 2015) < 261-a-07-(Janet Folger Porter, president, Faith2Action, in AP interview)-“and a friend”-Faith2Action president Janet Folger Porter says she’s deeply saddened by the death of anti-abortion activist Dr. John Willke. (22 Feb 2015) < RELIGIOUS DIVORCE-COERCION More testimony expected in trial of rabbi charged with running a divorce kidnap team TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Jurors are expected this week to see video recordings made by federal agents in the trial of a New York rabbi charged with running a divorce kidnap team Rabbi Mendel Epstein is on trial in Trenton, New Jersey. Epstein, his son and two other men face charges of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and attempted kidnapping stemming from an alleged kidnapping in 2013 and three other forced divorces. Prosecutors played recordings last week made by two undercover FBI agents posing as a brother and sister looking to obtain a divorce from the sister’s unwilling husband. Another rabbi is heard telling the agents that Epstein was a “hired hand” who could be “very helpful” to them. CIRCUMCISION-ORAL SUCTION NYC, Orthodox Jews in talks over ritual after herpes cases NEW YORK (AP) — An official with the New York mayor’s office says talks are continuing between health officials and a group of rabbis who perform the Orthodox Jewish tradition known as oral suction circumcision. In the procedure, which reaches back to biblical times, the person performing it — known as a mohel (moyl) — sucks the blood from the wound while there are prayers in Hebrew in the synagogue. Health officials say the suction puts infants at risk and have linked it to 17 cases of infant herpes since 2000. Two children died and two others suffered brain damage. City health officials estimate more than 3,000 babies are circumcised each year using the oral suction method. A 2012 report by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised against the practice, saying it increases the risk of herpes infection in baby boys by 3.4 times that of other male newborns. COLORADO CHURCH SNOW CANCELATIONS Dozens of churches cancel services in Denver area because of weather DENVER (AP) —Some Denver area churches have had to cancel their Sunday services because of a huge snowstorm. Forecasters called for accumulations of more than 2 feet in some areas. Dozens of churches canceled services, leaving phone messages or postings on Facebook asking members of their congregations to spread the word. RIVER CHURCH CAMP Alabama church camp on river funded by wealthy widow names director BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — A church camp on the banks of Alabama’s Cahaba River will spring to life this summer, thanks in part to a $2.52 million gift left by an Avondale widow who died in 2012. The river camp has been in the planning stages for 14 years and will have a grand opening on April 25. It is being run by the Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley, the regional governing body of the Presbyterian Church (USA). The camp will stretch along 437 acres along four-miles of the Cahaba River in Bibb and Shelby counties. The donation was made by Bette Wilson, 81, a member of the now-defunct Avondale Presbyterian Church, who died in 2012. The gift came as a surprise to the church, since Wilson had lived modestly in her later years. When her microwave oven stopped working, church members didn’t think she had enough money for a new appliance and they gave her the one from the shut-down church building. They had no idea that she was secretly a multi-millionaire.
