At least 40 people were killed and dozens more were in injured in suicidal blasts on an office of the Afghan Voice news agency and Shiite cultural centre in Kabul of Afghanistan on Thursday (December 28), report NDTV and other international media.

It is the latest deadly violence to hit the Afghan capital. Many of the victims are students.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility but the Taliban was quick to deny involvement in the assault at the Afghan Voice Agency, a media outlet which earlier reports had suggested could have been the target.

Deputy interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi told media that the blasts were in fact aimed at the Shiite Tabayan cultural centre. "A ceremony was being held to mark the 38th anniversary of Soviet invasion in Afghanistan when the explosion went off," he said.

Rahimi said the main blast was followed by two smaller bomb explosions that did not cause casualties.

Kabul has become one of the deadliest places in war-torn Afghanistan for civilians in recent months, as the Taliban step up their attacks and the ISIS seeks to expand its presence in the country.

A hospital official told local TV that 18 wounded had been brought to his facility. "Five of the wounded are in critical condition and our doctors are working to save their lives," Sabir Nasib, head of Istiqlal hospital, said.

A man attending the anniversary ceremony said he heard a "big boom".

"We do not know the numbers (of casualties). When the explosion happened we immediately fled," he told media.

Mohammad Hasan Rezayee, a university student also at the ceremony, told media that he had suffered burns to his face in the blast.

"After the blast there was fire and smoke inside the building and everyone was pleading for help," he said.

BDST: 1515 HRS, DEC 28, 2017
EHJ