With their capital city in lockdown for a terrorist dragnet and authorities asking social media users to refrain from revealing any security operations, Belgians are responding with a bravura display of humor.
They’re posting cat pictures.
As a Twitter poster named Anis explained, "#Brussels tweeters told not to let cat out of bag."
Authorities feared that any social media observations about ongoing anti-terror operations might tip off jihadists. So, the Police Fédérale asked for restraint.
Social media answered by pussyfooting around the security issue, pairing hashtags such as #BrusselsLockdown and #BelgianSurrealism with images of cats: in restful spa repose with cucumbers over the eyes, or sniffing at French fries, or lolling like an ingénue on a satiny pink spread.
It’s tragicomedy, a sure way to deal with catastrophe.
Mon chaton pour #bruxelles #BrusselsLockdown pic.twitter.com/b0CstAvmTK
— Paola Giuseppetti (@PGius) November 22, 2015