Egyptian military police patrol a street near the Vatican's Apostolic Nunciature where Pope Francis stays during his two-day visit in Cairo, on April 29, 2017. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

CAIRO, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Three policemen were killed and five others were wounded in a gun attack on a police convoy in Cairo, the Interior Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

"Unidentified militants riding two vehicles approached a moving security convoy and shot down policemen stationed at an intersection of the ring road, in Nasr City eastern the capital, around 11:45 a.m. Monday" the statement said.

Police returned fire at the attackers, and chased the vehicles in an effort to apprehend the perpetrators, the ministry added.

No group yet has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Egypt has been fighting a wave of anti-security attacks following the ouster of the Islamist leader Mohamed Morsi in 2013.

That attacks, which were mainly centered in Sinai while rarely happened in Cairo, have killed hundreds of soldiers and policemen.

A local affiliate of the Islamic State group in North Sinai province has claimed responsibility of most of the attacks.