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Palestinian Authority seizes Hamas bomb lab

Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Tuesday, March 7, 2000

RAMALLAH [MENL] -- The Palestinian Authority has discovered a new Hamas bomb factory in the West Bank.

PA sources said security forces raided a Hamas bombmaking factory in the West Bank city of Tulkarm on early Monday. They said the factory is suspected of supplying bombs for Hamas members for use in Israel.

In the Tulkarm factory, the PA arrested a Hamas member suspected of being part of a Hamas cell of would-be suicide bombers who planned to blow themselves up in Israeli cities. Four of five members of the cell were killed in a clash with Israeli security forces in the Israeli city of Taibeh last week.

Earlier, the PA arrested six Hamas militants, including two of group leader Ahmed Yassin's bodyguards, in connection with the Islamic campaign to bomb Israeli cities. PA sources said all six were from the Gaza Strip and included two bodyguards of Yassin.

The sources said one of the bodyguards has confessed to relaying orders to a Hamas cell of would-be suicide bombers, five of whom were killed or captured in a shootout with Israeli security forces on Thursday.

Israeli officials said the would-be bombers were preparing to blow themselves up in Israeli cities in the center of the country. Officials said several members of the cell were not in the Taibeh apartment when it was stormed last week and continue to plan to launch attacks.

On Monday, Israeli sources said their security forces arrested another two Hamas members. They said the suspects were believed to have helped the Taibeh cell.

For his part, Yassin denied any role in the Hamas bombing plans. He dismissed the reported confession of his bodyguard, saying it did not concern the Hamas leader.

"We had nothing to do with this operation because the political wing is not in contact with the military wing," Yassin told Israel Radio's Arabic service.

But Yassin acknowledged that Hamas continued to plan attacks on Israel. "There is nothing new in this," he said. "Hamas has never suspended its resistance against Israeli occupation."

PA officials said the arrest of Yassin's bodyguards was the first direct link established between the Hamas leader and terrorist plots. They said Hamas remains intent on blowing up Israeli targets but that the current campaign is not being directed by Hamas fugitive Mohammed Deif. Deif is said to be hiding in Gaza and Israel has pressed the PA for his arrest.

Tuesday, March 7, 2000

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