Suspect held after 3 Egyptians stabbed to death in SA

South African police said Wednesday that they have arrested a suspect following the murder of three Egyptian nationals, reported Xinhua.

The Coptic Orthodox Church of South Africa said Tuesday in a statement posted on social media that three members of the Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Church were subjected to a criminal attack in the Saint Mark the Apostle and Saint Samuel the Confessor Monastery in Cullinan, South Africa.

"A suspect has been arrested in connection with the triple murder of the monks that happened on March 12, at a monastery in Cullinan. The 35-year-old man is expected to appear before Cullinan Magistrates' Court on March 14," the South African Police Service said in a statement.

"All three victims were found with stab wounds, while the fourth victim that survived alleged that he was hit by an iron rod on his hand before fleeing and hiding in one of the rooms," the police statement said.

The police said the suspect left without taking any valuable items or properties from the place and the motive of murder is unknown at this stage.