By Sandra Birungi

Al-Qaeda has promised to carry out “shocking” attacks on the United States of America and the west in general this week on their website.

The attack with the headline “Map of al Qaeda and its future strikes” talked of a new attack on America saying, “Where will the next strike by al Qaeda be?”

“The answer for it, in short: The coming strikes by al Qaeda, with God’s Might, will be in the heart of the land of nonbelief, America, and in France, Denmark, other countries in Europe, in the countries that helped and are helping France, and in other places that shall be named by al Qaeda at other times,” the threat states. “The attacks will be “strong, serious, alarming, earth-shattering, shocking and terrifying. All operations will be recorded and published in due time. Let France be prepared, and let the helpers of France be prepared, for it is going to be a long war of attrition.”

The reference to France looks to be linked to France’s reaction to the insurgent fighting in Mali where it sent its troops to help bring Mali back to the control of the government. Mali’s rebels are said to be linked with the Islamic group, AL-qaeda.

Despite the threats, US is not scared. According to a U.S. official, these threats are being taken seriously. “Extremists regularly make threats online. This one is not particularly unusual, but of course should be taken seriously.”