Blast, clashes at Kabul shopping mall: police

Kabul: An explosion hit a shopping mall in the Afghan capital Kabul on Monday, where gunmen were inside exchanging fire with government security forces, a senior police official said.

"There was an explosion at the entrance of Kabul City Centre. There are gunshots being heard right now as I'm heading off towards it," Mohammad Zahir, Kabul police criminal investigation chief, told AFP.

Zahir said a group of armed men had entered the mall and were exchanging fire with security forces.