Egyptian security stopped gunmen from attacking a historic Christian site

A policeman was killed and three others were wounded late on Tuesday when gunmen opened fire on a checkpoint near St Catherine's monastery in Egypt's Sinai, Reuters reported.

"A number of gunmen... facing one of the checkpoints on the road to St Catherine's in south Sinai shot at security forces at the checkpoint," the country's interior ministry said in a statement posted to its Facebook page.

ISIS (Daesh) claimed responsibility for the attack.

St. Catherine's monastery was founded in the 6th century and is located at the foot of Mount Sinai. It is considered "the oldest continuously inhabited monastery in the World," and houses a library that features the "largest religious collection after the Vatican."

The attack comes 10 days after two deadly church bombings killed at least 49 in the country on Palm Sunday.

The bombings plunged Egypt into mourning and have been considered the deadliest attacks on the country's Coptic minority in recent years.

The most recent terrorist attack in Egypt comes just 10 days before Pope Francis is scheduled to visit the country on April >28-29. 

The Vatican had released a statement following the Palm Sunday attacks, saying that the Pope's visit will >move forward as planned despite security concerns.