Mormon Missionaries Injured in Belgium Explosion

Contributed By MormonNewsroom.org

• 22 March 2016

Map of Belgium, where four LDS missionaries were injured in Tuesday's explosion at the Brussels airport.

• Print
• Share 
  • E-mail
  • Twitter
  • Facebook

The Church announced Tuesday that four LDS missionaries serving in the France Paris Mission were injured in the March 22 explosion at the Brussels airport.

Three missionaries had been accompanying a fourth missionary who was on her way to a mission assignment in Ohio and who had already passed through airport security.

The injured missionaries are:

• Elder Richard Norby (66) of Lehi, Utah
• Elder Joseph Empey (20) of Santa Clara, Utah
• Elder Mason Wells (19) of Sandy, Utah
• Sister Fanny Rachel Clain (20) of Montélimar, France

Mission president Frederic J. Babin has reported that the missionaries were in the proximity of the explosion when it occurred and have been hospitalized, three with serious injuries. (Watch an online interview with President Babin on Mormonnewsroom.org.)

The three missionaries were taking Sister Clain to the airport. Sister Clain had been serving in that mission while awaiting a permanent visa for the United States. She was with the three other missionaries who were injured but had left them and passed through airport security when the explosion occurred. Sister Clain has been hospitalized with minor injuries.

All missionaries in the France Paris Mission have been asked to remain in their apartments.

The First Presidency of the Church promptly issued a statement this morning in response to the bombings:

“With much of the world, we awoke this morning to the heartbreaking news of the bombings in Belgium. Our prayers are with the families of the deceased and injured, including three of our missionaries who were injured and hospitalized. We also pray for the people of Belgium and France as they continue to deal with the uncertainty and devastation caused by the recent terrorist attacks.”

• Around the Church