Biodun Iginla, BBC News

Biodun Iginla, BBC News

Monday, November 23, 2015

Belgians tweet cat pictures during #BrusselsLockdown


  • 30 minutes ago


by Isabelle Roussel and Biodun Iginla, BBC News Analysts, Brussels
Gilles Bordelais ‏teets: This, dear outsiders, is how we fight terrorism here. They haven't got a chance! We haz kittens! #BrusselsLockdownImage copyright Twitter
On Sunday night, as a major anti-terror police operation was under way in Brussels, authorities asked the public to not report officers' movements online.
The Belgian capital has been on lockdown since Saturday amid a search for suspected Paris attacks gunman Salah Abdeslam.
On Twitter, the hashtag #BrusselsLockdown had been the term of choice for people discussing the raids.
But on Sunday night, the term was overtaken by Twitter users posting pictures and videos of cats, to make sure that any leaking of operational details were drowned out.
Police tweet asking people to refrain from tweeting operational detailsImage copyright Twitter
Some responded to the police request by giving journalist-style updates on the operations...
Jayce le Satirique tweets: BREAKING NEWS : Belgium Police using the new 200mph Hovercat during terrorist operations #BrusselsLockdownImage copyright Twitter
Geert van Bondt tweets: They got him #BrusselsLockdownImage copyright Twitter
Lore Vonck tweets: You can't keep hiding. #BrusselsLockdownImage copyright Twitter
Others responded with humour to the situation Belgians have found themselves in over the weekend:
Julia Reda ‏tweets: Stay inside they said. #BrusselsLockdownImage copyright Twitter
JaneAustenMaMaschio tweets: #relax, Mes amis #BrusselsLockdownImage copyright Twitter
JaneAustenMaMaschio tweets: #relax, Mes amis #BrusselsLockdownImage copyright Twitter
At the end of the evening, and the arrest of 16 people across the country, authorities thanked Belgians for their co-operation:
CrisisCenter Belgium tweets: Thanks to the media and citizens for their silence online as asked during the juridicial intervention tonight #BrusselsLockdown
Well played Belgium!

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