In an effort to blunt the impact of violent images following the deadly shooting in Strasbourg, France, thousands took to Twitter to post photos of kittens using the hashtag #DesChatonsPourStrasbourg (kittens for Strasbourg).
According to some participating in the effort, a similar effort to overtake violent pictures took place on social media during the 2016 terror attacks in Brussels, Germany.
For some who took part in #DesChatonsPourStrasbourg, posting the cat photos was also promoted as a way not to hinder ongoing police investigations in the immediate moments following the shootings.
The shootings at a Strasbourg Christmas market left three dead and six seriously wounded. The gunman is still at large.
In the hours after the attack, #DesChatonsPourStrasbourg began trending, but was later overtaken by #JeSuisStrasbourg.
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Three dead and six seriously wounded as Strasbourg gunman remains at liberty