Belgian Twitter users respond to terror alert with cat memes
Belgian Twitter users have responded with humour to a terror lockdown affecting their country by posting hundreds of cat pictures with the hashtag #BrusselsLockdown.
The move follows a request by authorities for tweeters not to give away operational details of an ongoing manhunt for suspected terrorist Salah Abdeslam, wanted in connection with the recent Paris terror attacks.
Police movements were being live-tweeted by journalists and locals giving cause for concern that terrorists could be tipped off in advance of any raids.
Taking the warning to heart Twitter users swiftly co-opted the request as an excuse to flood the internet with yet more cat pictures, ensuring that any genuine terror tweets were drowned out in a massive ball of fur.
They got him #BrusselsLockdown pic.twitter.com/qrKBKRh0Tc
— Geert Van Bondt (@Geertvanbondt) November 22, 2015
Major police operation underway in #BrusselsLockdown pic.twitter.com/DUZwfi0lOO
— Harry Boone (@towersight) November 22, 2015
Belgian authorities have opted to extend their heightened state of readiness whilst the suspect remains at large.