This weekend, Belgium’s government placed the country and its capital city Brussels under the highest level of terror alert due to an “imminent threat”.
Belgian forces, who were searching for suspects in the aftermath of the Paris attacks, appealed for social media silence about any police action that users might witness and requesting that citizens stop tweeting about the armed operations that were being carried out on Sunday…
So instead Belgians took to twitter posting pictures and videos of cats using the hashtag #BrusselsLockdown in an attempt to bury tweets about the police anti-terror operations in the city.
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BREAKING NEWS : Belgium Police using the new 200mph Hovercat during terrorist operations #BrusselsLockdown pic.twitter.com/MnIpiOZT3x
— Jayce le Satirique (@jaycelight) November 22, 2015
May the force be with us. #BrusselsLockdown pic.twitter.com/m9OuEVhfXS
— TineEeckhout (@TineEeckhout) November 22, 2015
After the all-clear was announced by officials following the arrest of 16 suspects, the media and citizens were thanked for their ‘silence’
Thanks to the media and citizens for their silence online as asked during the juridicial intervention tonight #BrusselsLockdown
— CrisisCenter Belgium (@CrisiscenterBE) November 22, 2015
Belgian police have also thanked the cats for their help.
Pour les chats qui nous ont aidé hier soir… Servez-vous! #BrusselsLockdownpic.twitter.com/7O5ENF6nXa
— Police Fédérale (@PolFed_presse) November 23, 2015
A statement from the country’s federal prosecutor said that another five suspects have since been arrested.
Niamh Harris