The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) security forces announced that it discovered on Sunday a store of arms into one of the mosques in the West Bank, an interior ministry statement revealed.

The interior ministry in a written statement said that the security forces found explosive devices were made into the store inside the mosque, adding "several raw-materials were also seized, which are used to manufacture bombs."

The statement didn't say in which town in the West Bank the mosque is located, but said that "our security forces noticed smoke coming out from the mosque, and when a force went inside, it found the store, the explosives and the raw-material."

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas security forces, which control the West Bank towns and cities, have been cracking down on Islamic groups, mainly Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

The crack down on the two Islamic groups had mounted after Hamas movement took control of the Gaza Strip by force in summer of 2007, and routed Abbas security forces. The two groups vow to continue their attacks, mainly on Israel.

"The security forces investigate the event and will follow up suspects who use mosques in other purposes," said the statement. "We call on the residents to report to the security forces about any illegal activity carried out into mosques."