Gunmen mounted coordinated attacks in the Afghan capital Kabul on Wednesday, battling security forces for hours in the city's main commercial area after at least three large explosions sent plumes of smoke and dust into the sky.
At least seven people were killed, including two police, and 17 were wounded, health officials said. It was the latest in a string of attacks that have killed and wounded hundreds of people in Kabul since the beginning of the year.
"There was a huge explosion, and that panicked everyone," said witness Khushal Khan, who was in the Shar-e Naw area of Kabul when the attacks happened. "We tried to get out of the area when there was another explosion and heavy gunfire."