DUSHANBE, September 6, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- Operation team investigating the blast that occurred overnight in Dushanbe’s night club, Dousti, says the blast was not a terrorist act, but it was an act of hooliganism.

According to news center of the State Committee for National Security (GKNB), an explosive made from pyrotechnic items was put under one of tables in the club’s hall.  The explosive that was detonated at around 24:00 injured four persons.  The explosive was reportedly of a low power.

Officers from the Interior Ministry and GKNB’s office for Dushanbe have been involved in investigating the blast.  Several young men have been detained on suspicion of having been involved in the blast and a investigation is under way.

We will recall that at first, authorities characterized the blast as a terrorist act and the source at one of power wielding sources told Asia-Plus today morning that GKNB’s office in Dushanbe has instituted criminal proceedings to investigate the blast under the provisions of Article 179 of Tajikistan’s Penal Code – terrorism; but it later re-qualified the incident as an act of hooliganism.

The blast occurred at the night club, Dousti, around midnight, shattering the club’s glass furniture.   

Yesterday’s blast comes just three days after suicide bomber in an explosives-packed car slammed into the Sughd regional body empowered to combat organized crime in Khujand on September 3, killing two police officers and injuring some 26 others.