With the evolving technological wonders available to Internet users, authorities have increasingly had to ask users, sharing information across social media while they watch live streams of events, to tone down what they share lest it interfere or jeopardize the operation.

Such was the case Sunday night in the Belgian capital of Brussels as police conducted an operation in central Brussels related to elevated terror threat levels in the wake of the deadly November 13 terrorist attacks in Paris. As local Twitter users and journalists, already on edge from days of warnings, took to social media to share what they heard and saw, police stepped in with a request for radio silence.

Par sécurité, veuillez respecter le silence radio sur les médias sociaux concernant les opérations de police en cours à #Bruxelles. Merci — Police Fédérale (@PolFed_presse) November 22, 2015

Belgian police asks to refrain from tweeting on any operation. #Brussel #BrusselsAlert — Jurek Kuczkiewicz (@jujikucz) November 22, 2015

The Internet, as it is wont to do, decided to heed the warning but do it with its own unique flourish: cats.

Using the hashtag "#BrusselsLockdown," users managed to both adhere to police requests and to subvert the nervous tension that had been encasing the city in the week after the Paris attacks using the Internet's preferred meme-able domestic pet.

Asked not to tweet details of cop ops in their area during #BrusselsLockdown Belgians are tweeting awesome pics of armed cats. Recommended. — ben goldacre (@bengoldacre) November 22, 2015

Belgian cats keep calm and carry on. #BrusselsLockdown pic.twitter.com/4JuVc2VZvC — Dave Sinardet (@DaveSinardet) November 22, 2015

Residents told to stay away from windows. Not sure they got the message #BrusselsLockdown pic.twitter.com/kv3Mosk5mZ — Matteo Albania (@m_albania) November 22, 2015

BREAKING NEWS : Belgium Police using the new 200mph Hovercat during terrorist operations #BrusselsLockdown pic.twitter.com/MnIpiOZT3x — Jayce le Satirique (@jaycelight) November 22, 2015

Though there are few details about the operation in Brussels, police have said the operation is over, though the heightened terror levels are expected to extend for several more days.