Sunday night a major anti-terror operation took place in several areas in Brussels and elsewhere in Belgium. As the operation took place in the middle of neighborhoods, residents watched what was going on and reporting it on social media, mostly on Twitter. Then the authorities requested that Belgians refrain from posting messages as they might expose or interfere with police operations.
“The people of Twitter decided to respond with what will now be known as an internationally recognized symbol of solidarity: cat photos, ” New York Times notes.
Within an hour after the authorities asked Belgians to be silence, a chorus of purrs and mews hickjacked a Twitter hashtag, the #BrusselsLockdown.
Hillarious pictures & videos
#BrusselsLockdown my cats are being very watchful. Terrorcats beware! pic.twitter.com/cRNXZj2vQj
— T. Fergo (@TFergo) November 23, 2015
NYT: “The cats appeared with machine guns, french fries and beer to comfort the citizens of Brussels, who need it: They were told to stay away from subways, schools and shopping centers as officials maintained the highest possible terror alert level, and no end to the lockdown is in sight.”
Enjoy!
When asked not to tweet #BrusselsLockdown police movements, Belgium responds — with cats. https://t.co/B7YJtnnluz pic.twitter.com/5A9XihblFP
— NBC Nightly News (@NBCNightlyNews) November 23, 2015
#BrusselsLockdown – When a hashtag is hijacked https://t.co/Dpt2Saw58k pic.twitter.com/OBoV9bXZWp
— dwnews (@dwnews) November 23, 2015
Cats would like to remain anonymous #BrusselsLockdown pic.twitter.com/rhoPkxfK8N
— Florence (@flowindey) November 22, 2015
#BrusselsLockdown, may the cats be with you. pic.twitter.com/4GDMz8AnzC
— imnotalone (@imnotalone) November 22, 2015
Belgian cats keep calm and carry on.
#BrusselsLockdown pic.twitter.com/4JuVc2VZvC
— Dave Sinardet (@DaveSinardet) November 22, 2015
Police warn not to tweet info on raids, so Belgians tweet pictures of cats instead. Brilliant #BrusselsLockdown pic.twitter.com/t6CWlgBIIV
— Paul Haydon (@Paul_Haydon) November 22, 2015
Our spokescat will be out soon with more information #BrusselsLockdown #cats pic.twitter.com/gMeTTfUfKN
— Kami Stappers (@Kami_Kami) November 22, 2015
They getting very close #silence #BrusselsLockdown pic.twitter.com/2YaYI0nYWC
— Geert Van Bondt (@Geertvanbondt) November 22, 2015
Stay low and don't panic #BrusselsLockdown pic.twitter.com/S2NpammaaU
— Geert Van Bondt (@Geertvanbondt) November 22, 2015
They got him #BrusselsLockdown pic.twitter.com/qrKBKRh0Tc
— Geert Van Bondt (@Geertvanbondt) November 22, 2015
#BrusselsLockDown Cats help the police by searching terrorists… pic.twitter.com/JEy07DqWWD
— Peter Norml (@PeterNorml) November 22, 2015
Let's tweet cats instead of police locations. #BrusselsLockdown pic.twitter.com/wWrRs0dyG3
— Liesbeth Hoornaert (@liesbette) November 22, 2015
CAT ! (Cats Against Terrorism) #BrusselsLockdown pic.twitter.com/OkjEYIDxth
— driesvl (@driesvl) November 22, 2015
Some time and much much later, Belgian Police tweeted this and thanked all the Belgian Kitties!
Pour les chats qui nous ont aidé hier soir… Servez-vous! #BrusselsLockdown pic.twitter.com/7O5ENF6nXa
— Police Fédérale (@PolFed_presse) November 23, 2015
For the cats that helped us last night. Serve yourself!
