At least 15 killed as 3 bombs tear through Afghanistan

Kabul: At least 15 people have died and dozens have been injured after three explosions rocked Afghanistan's capital Kabul on Thursday, according to Afghan officials.

The first blast targeted a bus carrying government employees in eastern Kabul at about 08.10 (local time) on Thursday, killing at least eight people, including five women and a child, and injuring 27 others, according to the ministry of mines and petroleum which the bus belonged to.

"First a magnetic bomb pasted to a minibus exploded, then a suicide bomber blew himself near the bus attack site and the third blast happened when a car was blown up by unknown militants,” a ministry official said.

The second suicide explosion killed at least seven people and wounded 20 others, officials said. There were no fatalities in the third blast, according to the interior ministry.

A spokesperson for the Taliban claimed responsibility for the third bombing in Kabul, but denied involvement in the other two attacks.

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said nine foreign forces were killed in the car bomb attack and two vehicles destroyed, but government officials did not confirm the Taliban claim.

The armed group has continued to launch daily assaults, mainly targeting security forces, even while holding negotiations with the United States aimed at ending the 18-year war.