Social media users around the world reacted to the Brussels terrorist attacks with a show of sorrow and defiance against the perpetrators, using hashtags such as #JeSuisBruxelles and #PrayForBelgium.
@twitter reacts to #Brussels #Bruxelles #Bruselas #Belgium pic.twitter.com/Q7HaoRmLwZ
— IvorCrotty (@IvorCrotty) March 22, 2016
I could live 1,000 years and never understand how some humans find just cause in slaughtering innocents. #Bruxelles
— Steve Davis (@SteveDavis90) March 22, 2016
No God of any faith would be on the side of the perpetrators of #Bruxelles attacks or others like them. Sick distortion of religion.
— Father Edward Beck (@FrEdwardBeck) March 22, 2016
Thoughts and prayers with #Bruxelles and with all victims of terrorism worldwide. #ISIS equals COWARDS
— Janine di Giovanni (@janinedigi) March 22, 2016
Today my heart hurts for #Bruxelles and humanity. Sending all of my positive energy & prayers to the victims and families.
— jen miller (@jenerallyspeaks) March 22, 2016
it's just another attempt to create tension between europeans and refugees. chose kindness #Bruxelles
— fernanda-marija (@JUNKIEAPHRODITE) March 22, 2016
Many relied on visual images and cartoons to express sorrow and solidarity with the victims.
#prayforbelgium share this picture and give your prays pic.twitter.com/72jh32OFW1
— Mike Lippens (@FQR_Official) March 22, 2016
Praying for the people of #Bruxelles this morning! 😢😭 pic.twitter.com/SJT4IP2syZ
— True Soccer Polls (@TrueSoccerPolls) March 22, 2016
"European Union is the world's most successful invention for advancing peace" John Bruton #Bruxelles #EuropeanUnion pic.twitter.com/vcrPQI1kpc
— Axel DARUT (@Axel_Darut) March 22, 2016
From #Bruxelles with love! 🇧🇪🖕 pic.twitter.com/IsByEyB09k
— Anthony Verdot (@Anthony_Verdot) March 22, 2016
Tristesse… #Bruxelles #Belgique pic.twitter.com/ecv1WdAEsf
— Aurélie Coudouel (@AurelieCoudouel) March 22, 2016
Tin-Tin, the iconic Belgian cartoon character also became a symbol of sorrow.
A quick tribute to #Brussels xx #Belgium #Prayforbrussels #Belgium #Belgique #Bruxelles:(pic.twitter.com/9b1edolueB
— eRic (@typoric) March 22, 2016
Tristesse #Bruxelles pic.twitter.com/HpeTv6dglQ
— Gergely Polner (@eurocrat) March 22, 2016
Grief knows no borders #Brussels #Belgium #Belgique #Europe #Europeanunion pic.twitter.com/CplZLh6u9l
— Chris 'ROY' Taylor (@chrisroytaylor) March 22, 2016
The "Manneken Pis" (Peeing Boy) statue, an informal symbol of the city, representing a two-year old boy, who resisted a foreign army which invaded Brussels in the Middle Ages became a symbol of defiance against the terrorists. According to one legend, the boy urinated on a burning fuse, preventing the city's walls from blowing up.
Soutien #Bruxelles pic.twitter.com/I3Jh8PhFCA
— Gaëlle Durand (@GalleDurand) March 22, 2016
According to another legend, he urinated on the invading troops, which later lost the battle.
#Bruxelles @nrenard75
— valco d lagache (@hugovaloise) March 22, 2016
MANNEKEN.PEACE pic.twitter.com/WHQMH35ewS
Terroristes, brace yourselves, on vous piss dessus! #Bruxelles #JeSuisBruxelloisUneFois! pic.twitter.com/B7RwwGoywA
— Cel (@CelVinel) March 22, 2016
The photograph of a refugee boy, currently in Macedonia, expressing sorrow for the victims also became widely shared.
This breaks my heart.
— ariadne (@ellieg_jessiej) March 22, 2016
Refugee child at the border of Greece and Macedonia.#Brussels #Belgium #Bruxelles pic.twitter.com/i4aZbEWe1Q
