Egypt's Interior Ministry says gunmen have attacked a security checkpoint in a city north of Cairo, killing three policemen, the Associated Press reported.

The ministry statement says the attack took place Monday, Oct 28 morning in Mansoura.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility but such attacks are typical for Islamic militants opposed to the country's military-backed government.

Egypt's military and police are battling a full-fledged insurgency by Islamic militants in the volatile northern Sinai Peninsula.

There has also been an increase in attacks elsewhere in the country, which are also blamed on militant groups loyal to ousted Islamist President Mohammed Morsi.

Morsi, Egypt's first freely elected president, was deposed in a July 3 military coup that followed mass protests calling for him to go.