Brussels remained on lockdown on Sunday with authorities searching for key suspects in connection to the Paris attacks. On Friday, the threat alert level was raised to "maximum," while the Belgian government implemented measures to stave off an “imminent terrorist attack.”
As police teams moved around the city on Sunday, authorities asked residents not to tweet the whereabouts of raids fearing the suspects would likely monitor 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, 2015Police are asking the public not to report their movements on social media, please support & rt #BrusselsLockdown
— Steven Vandeput (@svandeput) November 22, 2015Residents responded to the request with good humour, retweeting cat pictures instead using the hashtag #BrusselsLockdown.
Raids are taking place. Authorities asked not tweet. So people tweet cat picts. Love my people
#BrusselsLockDownpic.twitter.com/uQwS3M8LyV
— Frederic Jacobs (@FredericJacobs) November 22, 2015Residents told to stay away from windows. Not sure they got the message #BrusselsLockdownpic.twitter.com/kv3Mosk5mZ
— Matteo Albania (@m_albania) November 22, 2015They got him #BrusselsLockdownpic.twitter.com/qrKBKRh0Tc
— Geert Van Bondt (@Geertvanbondt) November 22, 2015Post cat pics, not police movements #BrusselsLockdown#BelgianSurrealismpic.twitter.com/GYfzY65Qof
— Yves-Alexandre (@yvesalexandre) November 22, 2015This is how my dog feels about the ongoing #BrusselsLockdown#BrusselsAlert#Brusselspic.twitter.com/pXfYrWGd8d
— Méabh Maguire (@MevMav) November 22, 2015I don't have a cat, but here's my rabbit #BrusselsLockdown#PrayForBrusselspic.twitter.com/KUYV3elfmb
— Marie Emma ن (@Mariemmaaa) November 22, 2015#brusselslockdown omnomnom pic.twitter.com/fJFmZ7d3uv
— Muriel Reyserhove (@mreyserhove) November 22, 2015Surrealist Belgians #BrusselsLockdownpic.twitter.com/EXSFZrV1oc
— Sybille deLa Hamaide (@Sdelahamaide) November 22, 2015Is it safe to come out yet? #BrusselsLockdownpic.twitter.com/6S7J7fYRDc
— Stéphanie O'Keeffe (@stephokeeffe) November 22, 2015Pumpkin shows solidarity with the #BrusselsLockdownpic.twitter.com/D3YAVzQ9fA
— Leon Jackson (@DrLeonJ) November 22, 2015Meanwhile in Belgium ... #BrusselsLockdownpic.twitter.com/9RIU4nD1WZ
— Paul Taquet (@au_taquet) November 22, 2015Hide and wait #BrusselsLockdownpic.twitter.com/FdvctVIMYn
— DM Graphics (@LindsayMonteyne) November 22, 2015Is it over yet? #BrusselsLockdownpic.twitter.com/au8Fw8thNA
— Hannes Coudenys (@hannes_bhc) November 22, 2015Exclusive picture of the man the police is looking for #BrusselsLockdownpic.twitter.com/9dHN9gA4yw
— Florence (@flowindey) November 22, 2015BREAKING NEWS : Belgium Police using the new 200mph Hovercat during terrorist operations #BrusselsLockdownpic.twitter.com/MnIpiOZT3x
— Jayce le Satirique (@jaycelight) November 22, 2015This, dear outsiders, is how we fight terrorism here. They haven't got a chance! We haz kittens! #BrusselsLockdownpic.twitter.com/sdq1MbrKsz
— Gilles Bordelais (@Gilles_PPDE) November 22, 2015Darko is using his satellite dish to track the bad guys ... Almost there #BrusselsLockdownpic.twitter.com/RX4k6PAFQI
— patrick de francquen (@patje16) November 22, 2015You can't keep hiding. #BrusselsLockdownpic.twitter.com/4ls1e9qB3s
— Lore Vonck (@lorevonck) November 22, 2015Breaking news, the seals are deployed #BrusselsLockdownpic.twitter.com/qqL8MmgjgT
— yazid helissi (@yazhelissi) November 22, 2015Stay safe, lovely folk of Belgium. #BrusselsLockdownpic.twitter.com/IA07USzISy
— Kylo Ren (@KyloRenn) November 23, 2015I think this is the point where the #BrusselsLockdown cat fest goes too far. Ht @danieljeriverspic.twitter.com/D54CzQZWuS
— Joseph Willits (@josephwillits) November 22, 2015Stay inside they said. #BrusselsLockdownpic.twitter.com/hpAfV417Hf
— Julia Reda (@Senficon) November 22, 2015Picture of Belgium's National Security Council when the door opens in the middle of the meeting #BrusselsLockdownpic.twitter.com/4oWuBRtipO
— Florence (@flowindey) November 22, 2015I'm absolutely in love with the hashtag #BrusselsLockdown and the Belgian people. pic.twitter.com/sJukzTw3Pr
— Antonio Ábalos (@abalos) November 22, 2015Cat skateboarding #BrusselsLockdown 🐱 pic.twitter.com/o7WVZlPZMw
— Cath Vandier (@pixelcath) November 22, 2015Suspicious backpack found in #Molenbeek#BrusselsLockdownpic.twitter.com/kbUvVYtsSg
— Parliamonster (@Parliamonster) November 22, 2015Yea yea yeah
Whatever
#BrusselsLockdownpic.twitter.com/ikvBdGX70w
— Mr Malky (@MrMalky) November 22, 2015May the force be with us. #BrusselsLockdownpic.twitter.com/m9OuEVhfXS
— TineEeckhout (@TineEeckhout) November 22, 2015#BrusselsLockdown supporting Belgian Police. We're stronger than we think! #Bravepic.twitter.com/x5Lq7pKKb1
— Wendy Carrara (@wcarrara) November 22, 2015I can't say @RealGrumpyCat seems impressed by the #BrusselsLockdown. pic.twitter.com/bNsrjJrmj8
— Daniel Hannan (@DanHannanMEP) November 22, 2015for our friends in Belgium we are sending this crime fighting duo #BrusselsLockdown#catspic.twitter.com/I0Qwai7Azr
— Michele Scott (@ShellScott17) November 22, 2015Well played, Belgium. Well played. #BrusselsLockdownpic.twitter.com/5PpvoGocQC
— Kelsey Egan (@KelseyTrrrills) November 23, 2015SEE ALSO:
