Authorities in South Africa have opened an investigation into the stabbing death of three Coptic monks in their church for reasons that remain unclear, police reported on Wednesday. South African police stated that the monks affiliated with a church in Cullinan, a small mining town located 50 kilometers northeast of Pretoria, were killed on Tuesday.
In this context, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry announced that it is closely following the investigations regarding the murder of the three Egyptian monks, in coordination with the Egyptian embassy in Pretoria. A statement issued by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry clarified that Ambassador Ahmed El-Fadly and embassy members proceeded immediately to the incident site after direct communication with leaders of the investigative and forensic department of the South African police, which initiated the investigation immediately.
It was clarified that "three victims were found with stab wounds. A fourth survivor confirmed that he was struck with a metal rod before he managed to escape and hide." The Coptic Orthodox Church in South Africa expressed its "deep sorrow over the tragic incident" on Facebook, labeling the attack as "criminal."
The church added that the Egyptian ambassador in Johannesburg visited the monastery on Tuesday "to follow up on developments," noting that the three victims are Father Taqla Al-Samouily, Justus Ava Marcus, and Mina Ava Marcus. The police confirmed that the circumstances of the case are still unclear, but no robbery has been reported.
South Africa is one of the most violent countries in the world, and places of worship have not been spared from crimes.
