Belgian police met with 'catty response' after requesting online silence

Belgians dutifully obeyed the police request

Belgian police, after requesting social media silence during a series of anti-terrorism raids, were met with a 'catty response' across Twitter and other social media platforms on Sunday.

A number of operations were underway across the country following a "terror threat" as the country was put on a maximum security alert over the past few days.



Federal police took to Twitter requesting social media silence. "For safety, please observe radio silence on social media #Bruxelles ongoing police operations. Thank you," it tweeted.

Par sécurité, veuillez respecter le silence radio sur les médias sociaux concernant les opérations de police en cours à #Bruxelles. Merci

— Police Fédérale (@policefederale) November 22, 2015

Soon after, Defence Minister Steven Vandeput also took to Twitter saying, "Police are asking the public not to report their movements on social media, please support & rt #BrusselsLockdown."

People had first started tweeting pictures of police standing guard in the streets, at hotels and roadblocks, which later changed to tweets of cats and cat memes, when police made the request asking for "radio silence" regarding the operation.



As per the request, Belgians dutifully complied with the orders as the hashtag #BrusselsLockdown went viral.

#relax, Mes amis #BrusselsLockdown pic.twitter.com/LENxVUnnv9

— Mr. Jane Austen (@ExTimUpperClass) November 22, 2015

https://twitter.com/loredewitte/status/668558619491848192

Don't worry super cat is here #BrusselsLockdown pic.twitter.com/ocou9Bagly

— Amit Bhat (@amitbhatr) November 22, 2015

May the force be with us. #BrusselsLockdown pic.twitter.com/m9OuEVhfXS

— TineEeckhout (@TineEeckhout) November 22, 2015

https://twitter.com/Gilles_PPDE/status/668559921164742656

Thinking Belgium has the best ever hashtag tonight #BrusselsLockdown pic.twitter.com/YTcIy62GUN

— Traci (@Truewho) November 23, 2015

https://twitter.com/Chumplet/status/668601048798511105

Asked not to tweet details of anti-terrorism raids, Belgians tweet things like this instead: #BrusselsLockdown pic.twitter.com/wY1ft3KLUj

— max seddon (@maxseddon) November 22, 2015

https://twitter.com/Ajit_Doval/status/668620098437955584

Well done Belgium, collectively tweeting cat pics during the terror threat is utter brilliance. #BrusselsLockdown pic.twitter.com/6w796g1Qjp

— Paul Coxon (@paulcoxon) November 22, 2015

Stay inside they said. #BrusselsLockdown pic.twitter.com/hpAfV417Hf

— Felix Reda (@Senficon) November 22, 2015

Some of the best of #BrusselsLockdown pic.twitter.com/SoDjIMu0GF

— Michelle (@OfHomoSapiens) November 23, 2015

After the operation came to a close, Belgian authorities thanked users "for taking into account the needs of the ongoing operation".

Thanks to the media and citizens for their silence online as asked during the juridicial intervention tonight #BrusselsLockdown

— CrisisCenter Belgium (@CrisiscenterBE) November 22, 2015