Hamas members arrested after accidental blast at bomb factory

Police have arrested four members of the Islamic militant group Hamas who were injured in an explosion in a suspected bomb lab, Palestinian officials said.

Police have arrested four members of the Islamic militant group Hamas who were injured in an explosion in a suspected bomb lab, Palestinian officials said.

The explosion went off yesterday in the bathroom of an apartment in a residential neighbourhood of the West Bank town of Nablus.

In all, eight people were injured when the walls of the apartment collapsed. Among the wounded were two young nieces of the suspected bombmaker, ages one month and four years.

The main suspect was identified as Oudeh Dakrory. Police said explosive materials were hidden in a chicken coop on the roof of the apartment building.

Dakrory's father said he was watching television with his grandchildren when the explosion went off.

Hamas opposes making peace with Israel and has carried out a series of bombings which have killed scores of Israelis.