Al Qaeda branch issues warning to France

PanARMENIAN.Net - Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, the terror group's North Africa branch, has issued a warning to France after the country's spate of terror attacks over the past week, CNN reports.

"France pays the cost of its violence on Muslim countries and the violation of their sanctity," AQIM said in a statement published on jihadist websites.

"As long as its soldiers occupy countries such as Mali and Central Africa and bombard our people in Syria and Iraq, and as long as its lame media continues to undermine our Prophet (Mohammed), France will expose itself to the worst and more."

France is reeling from an attack at the Charlie Hebdo satirical newspaper, which killed 12 people last week; the death of policewoman ; and the siege of a kosher supermarket that left four hostages dead.

Three terrorists from the attacks were killed, but a suspected co-conspirator remains on the loose -- possibly in Syria.

The warning from AQIM comes just before Charlie Hebdo, known for its controversial depictions of the Prophet Mohammed, is set to publish again Tuesday, Jan 13. The issue will hit newsstands Wednesday.

This time, the cover features a drawing of a frowning Prophet Mohammed with a teardrop coming from his eye. "All is Forgiven," the cover headline says in French. In the prophet's hands: a sign that says "Je suis Charlie" -- or "I am Charlie."

Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is boosting security at more government buildings across the country. But the exact locations are "law-enforcment sensitve," DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson said in a statement.

Johnson also noted that the Transportation Security Administration has ramped up the number of random searches of passengers and carry-on luggage at U.S. airports.