Story highlights
The world turns to social media as sympathizers share their messages of solidarity after Brussels attacks
From cartoons to inviting the stranded into their homes, people are praying for Brussels
As the world dealt with the news of the Brussels attacks on Tuesday, messages of solidarity, shock and sadness flooded social media.
Three explosions ripped through Brussels, Belgium, killing dozens and injuring hundreds more. Two of the blasts were at the Brussels Airport, while another happened at a subway station in the district of Maalbeek.
People shared cartoons expressing grief in black, yellow and red, the colors of the Belgian flag. Others posted messages of solidarity with #JeSuisBruxelles, or “I am Brussels,” an ode to a similar outpouring with #JeSuisCharlie after the Charlie Hebdo attack in January 2015. Other popular hashtags were #prayforbrussels and #prayforbelgium.
Some people went beyond showing their solidarity; they invited stranded people into their homes using #OpenHouse.
French cartoonist Jean Plantureux, who goes by Plantu, drew an emotional cartoon for French newspaper Le Monde. A crying person draped in a French flag hugs a crying person with a Belgian flag, suggesting solidarity between the two countries. The dates beneath each figure signify the November 13 Paris attacks and the March 22 Brussels attacks.
An image of famous cartoon figure Tintin appeared with black, yellow and red tears rolling down his face. Tintin’s hometown is Brussels.
A hand holding a cone of French fries in the style of the Statue of Liberty holding the torch also spread across social media. Lore has it that fries originated in Belgium, but it’s an ongoing dispute between France and Belgium.
Other images simply showed the world had Brussels in their thoughts, as translated from this image in French.
As the day went on, people in Brussels and elsewhere paid tribute to the victims with flowers, chalk messages and more.
Pop singer Adele also paid tribute at a concert in London as seen in this video shot by Matt Bould.
CNN’s Henry Hanks contributed to this report.
