An Israeli policeman shot and seriously wounded a tourist in Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre after he tried to stab him, and several others present at the location, police said on Friday.

The unidentified man was hit in the chest and abdomen and underwent emergency surgery in a city hospital, the hospital's spokeswoman said in a statement. His condition Saturday morning remained critical, Israel Radio reported.

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre lies in Jerusalem's walled Old City. It is worshiped by many Christians as the site where Jesus was buried, and the site is guarded by armed Israeli security police.
A police spokesman said the man pulled a knife and lunged at the policeman when he was asked to leave the church, which was about to be closed for visitors.

There was no immediate information on the wounded man's nationality or his motives, although the spokesman said the attack did not appear to be politically motivated.

Haaretz