At least 2 killed after blasts hit New Year celebrations in Afghan capital

KABUL, March 21 (Xinhua) -- At least two people were killed and 14 others wounded after three blasts hit news.cn/en/tag/i0xngaj3163f76200c981b/index.html" target="_blank">new news.cn/en/tag/i0xngaj3163f76200c981b/index.html" target="_blank">news.cn/en/tag/i0xkmka3857a9d60b12dff/index.html" target="_blank">news.cn/en/tag/i0xngamdcea7a558e213db/index.html" target="_blank">Year celebrations near a shrine in the western side of Kabul on Thursday, officials said.

"Two killed and 14 wounded have been admitted in Ali Abad hospital following Thursday morning's blasts in Jaman Mina," a health official told Xinhua.

The bomb attacks came as Afghan security forces have beefed up security across the country for Nawroz Festival celebrations falling on Thursday which marks the Afghan news.cn/en/tag/i0xngaj3163f76200c981b/index.html" target="_blank">new news.cn/en/tag/i0xngaj3163f76200c981b/index.html" target="_blank">news.cn/en/tag/i0xkmka3857a9d60b12dff/index.html" target="_blank">news.cn/en/tag/i0xngamdcea7a558e213db/index.html" target="_blank">Year.

"The numbers of casualties will likely rise as the affected people were shifted to multiple hospitals and further details of the incident will be shared with media later in the day," the official added.

"We heard a huge blast at the main traffic circle in Jamal Mina neighborhood at 9:30 a.m. and the blast was followed by two consecutive explosions at the area, which is called Kart-e-Sakhi," eyewitness Mohammad Jafar told Xinhua.

"The area was closed for traffic as news.cn/en/tag/i0xngaj3163f76200c981b/index.html" target="_blank">new news.cn/en/tag/i0xngaj3163f76200c981b/index.html" target="_blank">news.cn/en/tag/i0xkmka3857a9d60b12dff/index.html" target="_blank">news.cn/en/tag/i0xngamdcea7a558e213db/index.html" target="_blank">Year celebrations were underway in Sakhi Shrine but the blasts occurred as big crowd of people were walking toward the shrine," Jafar added.

"One of the roads of the square leads to Sakhi Shrine. The whole place has now been sealed off by security forces," he said.

Several warning shots were also fired by the security forces.

"There are causalities. We still cannot provide details on causalities," a police officer told Xinhua near the site.

The nature of the blasts were not known at this point. At least one suicide bombing was suspected, the police official added.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks yet.

Kabul with a population of nearly 5 million has been hit by series of terror attacks over the past couple of news.cn/en/tag/i0xngaj3163f76200c981b/index.html" target="_blank">news.cn/en/tag/i0xkmka3857a9d60b12dff/index.html" target="_blank">news.cn/en/tag/i0xngamdcea7a558e213db/index.html" target="_blank">Years.