More than 30 people have been killed and up to 103 injured in twin blasts near the Afghan Defense Ministry in the capital, Kabul, according to a Defense Ministry spokesman cited by Reuters news agency.

Earlier, a spokesman for the country’s Health Ministry put the death toll at 24 people and the number of those injured at over 90.

Several senior police officials are among the dead, according to Tolo News.

The first explosion was reported to be small, and when people gathered to find out what was happening another blast went off, according to local media reports that cite eyewitnesses.

#KabulExplosion - the death toll from Monday's twin bombing outside the MoD has risen to over 30: officials #Afghanistan — TOLOnews (@TOLOnews) September 5, 2016

The attack happened in a crowded area of the city near government buildings as well as a market and a main intersection, Defense Ministry spokesman Mohammad Radmanesh said, according to Reuters.

#Afghan MoD spox to @pazadiradio: 9 killed & 30 wounded in blast in front of MoD. Photos Noor Kochay- social media pic.twitter.com/YOBbAetAIG — Malali Bashir (@MalaliBashir) September 5, 2016

The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the blasts. The terrorist group's main spokesman said that the first explosion near the Defense Ministry and other government departments was followed minutes later by a larger suicide attack.

#AFG Attack took place during rush hour as government employees and civilians were heading home. Area one of the most crowded in city. — Bilal Sarwary (@bsarwary) September 5, 2016

About two weeks ago, 13 people were killed in a suicide attack on the American University in Kabul.