Bloomington PD: 'Mall of America remains a very safe place'
Bloomington police in partnership with the FBI, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, Metro Transit police and the Mall of America released a statement on Sunday following the video's release saying "enhanced security measures" have been implemented.
Bloomington police statement
More -- Mall of America named as target in al-Shabaab video
"I would say that if anyone is planning to go to the Mall of America today, they've got to be particularly careful," Johnson said. "There will be enhanced security there, but public vigilance, public awareness and public caution in situations like this is particularly important, and it's the environment we're in, frankly."
In the video, a man speaking English and wearing a scarf over his head refers to a 2013 attack on Nairobi's Westgate shopping mall in which gunmen killed 63 shoppers.
"Westgate was just the beginning, and with all hopes of peace forever dashed," the man says. "What if such an attack was to occur in the Mall of America in Minnesota?"
But Johnson says Americans shouldn't let threats like that impact how they live their lives.
"Americans should still feel that they are free to associate, they are free to go to public gatherings, but it's critical that we have public awareness and public participation in our efforts," Johnson said.