By Xinhua
Gaza : Hamas police forces in Gaza announced they thwarted an attack against Hamas leader Ismail Haneya on Saturday, a spokesman for the police said on Sunday.
The Hamas police arrested a man when he refused to open a bag for inspection on his shoulder at a stadium in Gaza city on Saturday night, when Hamas was staging a celebration to honor Muslim pilgrims, said the spokesman Islam Shahwan.
He added that a bomb found inside the bag was “ready for going off” on the scene, where Hamas leader Ismail Haneya was then present.
According to Shahwan, the suspect admitted that he, along with four colleagues, was planning to blow up the bomb at the stadium.
Hamas fought against forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah last June and took over Gaza Strip.
Abbas fired a Hamas-led unity government but the Islamic movement neglected the sacking and kept its control on the impoverished Strip.
Fatah movement responded later as saying the detainees were from its members, accusing Hamas of arresting them for political reasons.