3 monks killed in South Africa monastery attack, Coptic Orthodox Church says

• Three monks belonging to Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Church were killed in an attack on a monastery in South Africa on Tuesday.
• The attacks occurred at the Monastery of St. Mark the Apostle and St. Samuel the Confessor.
• The Coptic Orthodox Church identified the monks as Friars Hegumen Takra El Samueli, Friars Yostos Ava Markos, and Friars Mina Ava Marcos.

Three monks belonging to Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Church were killed in an attack at a monastery in South Africa on Tuesday, the church announced.

They were killed in the monasteries of St. Mark the Apostle and St. Samuel the Confessor. The Egypt-based Coptic Orthodox Church named the monks Hegmen Takra El Samueli, Yostos Ava Markos, and Mina Ava Markos. All three were Egyptian nationals.

The Coptic Orthodox Church in South Africa announced that Mr. El Samueli is vice-bishop of the Diocese of South Africa.

Vatican officially recognizes 21 Coptic regular teachers beheaded by Islamic extremists as martyrs

Police said they are investigating the attack as a homicide, but the motive for the attack is unknown. A police spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but police told South African news website News24 that three monks were stabbed.

News24 quoted police Colonel Dimakatso Nebhluwi as saying that the fourth person was injured after being hit with an iron rod.

South Africa’s ruling party’s field election candidate faces corruption allegations

South Africa’s Coptic Orthodox Church said the monks were victims of a “criminal attack” and had become “martyrs” as a result.

Egypt’s ambassador to South Africa reportedly visited the monastery after the attack.

The Coptic Church is one of the oldest Christian communities in the world. Churches have been the target of deadly attacks by Islamic extremists in Egypt and elsewhere.