Whittier Christian High group landed in Brussels when terrorists were attacking

LA HABRA — When terrorists attacked Brussels inteational airport and a busy subway station with bombs killing more than 30 and wounding over 100 people, a group of students, teachers and community members from Whittier Christian High School in La Habra had just arrived at the airport.

Whittier Christian High School, located at 501 N. Beach Blvd., was en route to Liberia and the Containers of Hope ministry to help with Ebola orphans, according to the school.

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Students on the trip were several terminals away from the bomb blasts, said Chris Sanita, director of curriculum and instruction for Whittier Christian High School. None were hurt.

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“But they heard it,” he said. “They did whatever the first responders said to do,” he added.

About six or seven students, two alumni and one board member are part of the school group.

Sanita said the school group will continue through a different airport to Monrovia, Liberia, where they will continue with their mission. They are part of a group called Containers of Hope, helping orphans of the Ebola virus.

“They will be traveling to Liberia without their luggage,” Sanita said, adding they will have to do some shopping in the capital once they arrive.

He said the school is keeping to a regular class schedule today. “Our teachers are praying with their students. They have been lifting up the kids (on the trip),” Sanita said.

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Steve Scauzillo and City News Service contributed to this report.