Armed gunmen opened fire on a police patrol in Cairo on Monday night, killing three policemen and wounding five in a drive-by shooting, Egypt's Interior Ministry said on Tuesday.

The attack took place in the city's northeastern neighborhood of Nasr City. Armed assailants in two cars approached the patrol near the Ring Road and opened fire at the policemen who exchanged fire with the attackers, the ministry added in a statement.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

The ministry said that investigations are underway and an operation has been launched to catch the gunmen.

Egypt is battling a militant insurgency that is mainly concentrated in the restive northern part of Egypt's Sinai Peninsula.

However, militants have also struck elsewhere in the country, including the captial, often targeting police and army personnel.

Civilians have also been targeted in a number of attacks. Last month, two Egyptian Coptic churches in Tanta and Alexandria were struck by suicide bombings that left 47 dead.

Both attacks were claimed by the Islamic State group's Egyptian affiliate, which is active in northern Sinai.

Monday's driveby shooting came two days after Pope Francis concluded a historic, highly secured visit to Egypt, during which he warned against religious fanaticism and urged Muslim leaders to unite against extremist violence.