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.
Brussels on alert for Paris-like attack
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.
Brussels hunts for suspects as lockdown enters second day
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
https://twitter.com/paulcoxon/status/668564307014246400
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
— Reality (@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
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