Police Ask Belgians Not To Tweet About Terror Raids So They Post Cat Pictures Instead

Following the Paris attacks, officials conducting anti-terror raids around Belgium asked for “social media silence” to keep potential suspects in the dark. Witty Belgians rose to the challenge purr-fectly, swamping the hashtag #BrusselsLockdown with — what else? — pictures of cats.

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“For security, please respect the radio silence on social media concerning the police operations underway in Brussels.”

With only Twitter, the Internet’s cat-alogue of kitty memes, and national news for company, citizens found a hilarious way to bury potentially sensitive Tweets.

“Don’t share info … Confuse them with #cat pics”.

https://twitter.com/SeimenBurum/status/668534972161093632/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc^tfw

Belgians stuck inside soon found a way to make light of the situation.

From kitty costumes…

https://twitter.com/jflamman/status/668548487085182976/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc^tfw

…to famous villains…

https://twitter.com/TineEeckhout/status/668552072783142912/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc^tfw

…and superheroes.

https://twitter.com/amitbhatr/status/668555983547981824/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc^tfw

These cats have everything under control.

https://twitter.com/loredewitte/status/668558619491848192/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc^tfw

Utilsing the latest in cat-tastic technology.

https://twitter.com/jaycelight/status/668536938778009600/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc^tfw

And following vigorous research of military strategy.

Talks were under way.

Plus inspired use of the cone of shame.

https://twitter.com/patje16/status/668538905499705348/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc^tfw

These cats weren’t pussy footing around.

https://twitter.com/Gilles_PPDE/status/668559921164742656?ref_src=twsrc^tfw

As the hashtag spread, other countries offered  their support and praised Belgium’s humor.

https://twitter.com/tony_colville/status/668553130628485126/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc^tfw

The Belgian Crisis Center thanked the public for their bravery and the social media cat-out.

Belgium has set the bar pretty high, so next time Twitter gets itself in a tizz about public safety, you know what to do (as if you needed another reason to post cat photos).