In response to the recent deadly Paris attacks, the Belgian police had a particularly interesting idea for how to maintain a heightened security level: an operation called #BrusselsLockdown. The idea was to create a social media blackout surrounding the work the police were doing, and they asked the general public not to tweet about it. Instead of simply not tweeting about the lockdown, enterprising Belgians had a different idea: Instead of tweeting about the lockdown, they flooded the tag with pictures of their cats. Below is what might amount to the largest collection of Belgian cats in Internet history. That last one is simply the best.
Stay inside they said. #BrusselsLockdown pic.twitter.com/hpAfV417Hf — Julia Reda (@Senficon) November 22, 2015
Picture of Belgium’s National Security Council when the door opens in the middle of the meeting #BrusselsLockdown pic.twitter.com/4oWuBRtipO — Florence (@flowindey) November 22, 2015
Police ask people not to report details of #BrusselsLockdown. Internet responds perfectly with Cat pictures. <3 pic.twitter.com/VDymq3mEUr — Pia Micallef (@PiaMicallef) November 22, 2015
Don’t worry super cat is here #BrusselsLockdown pic.twitter.com/ocou9Bagly — Amit Bhat (@amitbhatr) November 22, 2015
“I got this” #BrusselsLockdown pic.twitter.com/l97iQz47Pb — Lore De Witte (@loredewitte) November 22, 2015
BREAKING NEWS : Belgium Police using the new 200mph Hovercat during terrorist operations #BrusselsLockdown pic.twitter.com/MnIpiOZT3x — Jayce le Satirique (@jaycelight) November 22, 2015
In the mean time in Belgium .. #BrusselsLockdown pic.twitter.com/G6nEvli3o8 — ElisabettaCanalis (@JustElisabetta) November 23, 2015
May the force be with us. #BrusselsLockdown pic.twitter.com/m9OuEVhfXS — TineEeckhout (@TineEeckhout) November 22, 2015
BREAKING: Belgian police have released a photograph of the main supect #BrusselsLockdown pic.twitter.com/8FDAjZglZn — Jeroen Flamman (@jflamman) November 22, 2015
Meanwhile in belgium #BrusselsLockdown pic.twitter.com/MUAJXzLFEf — Basile Bong (@basilebong) November 22, 2015
Well done Belgium, collectively tweeting cat pics during the terror threat is utter brilliance. #BrusselsLockdown pic.twitter.com/6w796g1Qjp — Dr Paul Coxon (@paulcoxon) November 22, 2015
Suspicious backpack found in #Molenbeek #BrusselsLockdown pic.twitter.com/kbUvVYtsSg — Parliamonster (@Parliamonster) November 22, 2015
Authorities asked not to tweet about the raids, so people tweet cat picts. I love this country. #BrusselsLockDown pic.twitter.com/yExhscsKhA — ally (@reliableari) November 22, 2015