This weekend, Belgium’s capital city was been placed under the highest level of terror alert, due to an unspecified “serious and imminent threat.” Authorities feared a Paris-style terrorist attack was planned for Brussels. The city responded to the threat in the very best way possible – with cats!
To explain, federal police made a request on Twitter for the public to maintain radio silence about the ongoing counter-terror operations on social media, for fear of alerting potential targets of the raids to police movements.
Par sécurité, veuillez respecter le silence radio sur les médias sociaux concernant les opérations de police en cours à #Bruxelles. Merci
— Police Fédérale (@PolFed_presse) November 22, 2015
Rather than give in to fear, Belgians responded by instead tweeting photos of cats with the hashtag #BrusselsLockdown. Here are some of our favorites:
Belgians tweet cat pictures during #BrusselsLockdown https://t.co/Kd1IZA4nRn pic.twitter.com/muchoyPIbi
— Liberationtech (@Liberationtech) November 23, 2015
We will destroy this terrorist organization. #BrusselsLockdown pic.twitter.com/WKY7DbAYyD
— Tiago Silva (@hugotiago_) November 22, 2015
This, dear outsiders, is how we fight terrorism here. They haven't got a chance! We haz kittens! #BrusselsLockdown pic.twitter.com/sdq1MbrKsz
— Gilles Bordelais (@Gilles_PPDE) November 22, 2015
Suspicious backpack found in #Molenbeek #BrusselsLockdown pic.twitter.com/kbUvVYtsSg
— Parliamonster (@Parliamonster) November 22, 2015
Residents told to stay away from windows. Not sure they got the message #BrusselsLockdown pic.twitter.com/kv3Mosk5mZ
— Matteo Albania (@m_albania) November 22, 2015
Belgian federal police also got in on the ‘fun’. On Monday, they tweeted a symbol of their gratitude: a big bowl of cat food “for the cats who helped us yesterday.”
Voor de katten die ons gisteren geholpen hebben… Alsjeblieft! #BrusselsLockdown pic.twitter.com/QlwY9EtzEZ
— Federale Politie (@FedPol_pers) November 23, 2015
