Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) -- Deadly blasts targeting foreign nationals in the Afghan capital Friday killed at least 17 people and wounded many others.



Authorities were trying to determine how many people died and the nationalities of those slain.



Kabir Al-Amiri, an employee at Kabul hospital, said eight Indians and one Pakistani national were among the dead. Afghan Interior Ministry officials said an Italian was killed, and the Indian Embassy said four Indians were killed in the attack.



The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attacks near the Safi Landmark Hotel in the neighborhood of Shahr-E-Naw, where there are a number of government buildings and U.N. offices as well as supermarkets, banks, diplomatic facilities and villas for well-to-do Afghans.



The force of the first explosion -- at about 6:30 a.m. (9 p.m. Thursday ET) -- shook parts of the Afghan capital as windows shattered and smoke billowed. The sound of gunfire filled the air.



The attack started with a suicide car bomb and four suicide bombers with explosive-laden vests, said Taliban spokesman Zaidullah Mujahid. Three of the bombers were killed, he said.



About 20 minutes later, a second large explosion occurred.



Afghan police blocked off roads leading to the area of the blasts.



CNN's Ben Wedeman contributed to this report
How many bombers were killed? Who claimed responsibility for attacks? What is the number of people killed in attacks in Kabul? Were any of the bombers killed? Who  were killed? Who claimed responsibility for the attacks? How many were killed in attacks in Kabul? How many people were killed in the Kabul attacks?
Three The Taliban 17 Three of the at least 17 people The Taliban 17 at least 17
question: How many bombers were killed?, answer: Three | question: Who claimed responsibility for attacks?, answer: The Taliban | question: What is the number of people killed in attacks in Kabul?, answer: 17 | question: Were any of the bombers killed?, answer: Three of the | question: Who  were killed?, answer: at least 17 people | question: Who claimed responsibility for the attacks?, answer: The Taliban | question: How many were killed in attacks in Kabul?, answer: 17 | question: How many people were killed in the Kabul attacks?, answer: at least 17