Belgium fights terrorism with cat meme on #BrusselsLockdown

Alia E. Dastagir | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Twitter responds to Brussels police request for 'radio silence' with kittens On Sunday night in the Belgian capital of Brussels 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.

It isn't all dark.

In the face of terror, an anxious Belgium found laughter. And cats. Naturally.

Police detained 16 suspects on Sunday in a series of raids in Brussels following the attacks in Paris on Nov. 13. The city has been on the highest possible terror alert level for what Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel called an "imminent threat" to the capital.

Authorities asked social media for silence on their movements as police conducted the counter-terrorism operation. The Internet responded as only the Internet could: with an anti-ISIL cat parade.

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

Thanks to the media and citizens for their silence online as asked during the juridicial intervention tonight #BrusselsLockdown — CrisisCenter Belgium (@CrisiscenterBE) November 22, 2015

In a surreal display of solidarity, cat tweets flooded the #BrusselsLockdown hashtag, which had nearly 190,000 mentions on Sunday night, virtually burying any intelligence about police movements.

Freedom wins. And cat memes, too.

The Army has released the cat tank. Terrorists you are so screwed. #BrusselsLockdown pic.twitter.com/TsD3rLpOwt — Mara Um (@mara85kh) November 22, 2015

A little country, a great sense of humor #BrusselsLockdown pic.twitter.com/wyQCjWJAlw — elodieD (@elodiedavoise) November 22, 2015

Breaking news, l'intervention passe en plan unicorn kitty!!! #BrusselsLockdown pic.twitter.com/AMwSdz0EQk — Charlie Bird Parker (@Chandleyr) November 22, 2015

16 arrested, but prime suspect fleeing by car #BrusselsLockdown pic.twitter.com/URNUSw3Max — George-K. Charonis (@GeorgeKCharonis) November 22, 2015