DUSHANBE -- Tajikistan's security services have reportedly prevented a terrorist act at the TALCO company, the largest aluminum plant in Central Asia.

Interior Ministry spokesman Jaloliddin Sadriddinov told journalists in Dushanbe on April 9 that a criminal group that planned a large explosion at the plant was detained last week with explosives in their possession.

No further details were released.

An employee of the facility, who asked not to be named, told RFE/RL that four members of the group were TALCO employees.

The plant is located in the town of Tursunzade, 60 kilometers west of the capital, Dushanbe.

Tajik President Emomali Rahmon personally controls the operations of the plant, which is considered to be Tajikistan's main industrial asset.