Triumph Over Terror: Peninsula student’s family member evades tragedy of bombings
A study by the Institute for Economics and Peace shows that since the mayhem on Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks have more than quadrupled around the globe. Since 2013 alone, the world has seen a 35 percent increase in the frequency of terrorist attacks, according to a National Broadcasting Company (NBC) study.
On March 22, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria organized two bombings in Brussels, Belgium; one took place at an airport, the other at a metro station. The suicide bombers took the lives of at minimum 35 people and injured over 300. It is unclear how many perpetrators were involved in the attacks, but according to the British Broadcasting Company (BBC), there were a total of six bombers. Only two of the bombers have been identified. Another two are still at large, one has yet to be apprehended and one is already deceased. After the attacks, Belgium had three days of national mourning.
When hearing about the Brussels attacks, history teacher Scotte Massey had a somber reaction.
“These latest terrorist attacks in Brussels write another page in what is becoming one of the darkest chapters in our modern history,” Massey said. “Terrorism is the worst kind of pure evil, and as much as I believe that ‘this, too, shall pass,’ it’s hard to find optimism when fighting an enemy who operates with total disregard for humanity, completely outside of society’s sense of morality and justice.”
Recent attacks such as those in Brussels, Paris and Boston have affected people from all walks of life, but one particular Peninsula family has felt severe heartache. Sophomore Kailee Kakazu is the cousin of Mason Wells, a 19-year-old who was present at each of the three targeted locations, making the Brussels bombing his third survived terrorist attack.
“I was in a state of shock,” Kakazu said, referring to the incident in Brussels. “I knew that my cousin had been there, but my family didn’t know the state of his injuries. We were all pretty discouraged because there was nothing we could do since he was so far away.”
In April 2013, Wells was present at the Boston Marathon, only a block away from the actual bombings. Wells was with his father in the stands waiting for his mother to finish the marathon when the bombings occurred.
In November 2015, Wells was in France on the night of the Paris attacks, although a safe distance away from the attacks themselves. Wells was visiting France working as a LDS (Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints) Mormon missionary at the time. As a missionary, Wells had intended to stay out of country for two years and return this August.
Wells continued with his missionary work, which took him to Brussels. Wells, with two fellow missionaries, was dropping off another missionary leaving for the United States. The three were standing at a kiosk, about 30 feet away from the suicide bomber.
Wells was not as lucky this time as in previous situations, leaving this attack with a damaged Achilles tendon, first and second degree burns on his hands and face and various injuries due to bomb shrapnel.
Wells does not know why he has been caught in so many of these tragedies, but he has not taken his continued luck for granted.
In an interview with Daily News, Wells stated, “I don’t know why I was
in certain areas when certain things happen, but what I do know is that I’ve had people around me who have always taken care of me.”
The outcome of the attacks and the story of Wells have changed people’s
perspectives all over the world, including Kakazu’s.
“My cousin has been an inspiration globally,” Kakazu said. “He has really impacted my life to never take things for granted and to always make the best possible decisions that I can.”
