A huge blast was heard at midnight on Saturday in western Gaza City which could be a bomb attack near a Hamas security compound in the area, residents said.

Witnesses said that a bomb exploded outside a Hamas security compound in western Gaza, known as the department of security and protection.

Gaza emergency chief Mo'aweya Hassanein told Xinhua that ambulances and rescue teams rushed to the area to check if there are any fatalities.

Security sources in Gaza said that explosives experts also discovered three bombs placed near security compound belonging to Hamas security forces, and they had dismantled the bombs.

There are no immediate reports of any casualties.

Hamas has been ruling the Gaza Strip since it seized control of the enclave in June 2007.

(Xinhua News Agency August 30, 2009)