Brussels counts on kitty power to lure tourists

Images of cats — symbols of Belgians' resolve on social media during a recent terrorism scare — have sprouted in Brussels once more, this time as a hopeful sign of normalcy.

Officials hope feline faces in familiar places will serve as catnip for tourists who were shooed away during a five-day lockdown while security forces braced for a terror attack and scoured the city for suspects.

A photo of Brussels' Atomium — a nine-sphere structure of an iron crystal and one of the city's biggest draws — has been altered with the faces of nine cats plastered on it. Because, of course, cats have nine lives. "We think some cats will help," spokeswoman Inge Van Eycken told the Associated Press.

They probably can't hurt. Brussels has had few tourists since the capital city shuttered subways and schools out of fear of a repeat of the Islamic State's attack on Paris that killed 130 people. Belgian authorities have arrested six people in connection with the massacre in Paris.

During the lockdown, images of cats inundated social media after police asked residents not to share information about the arrests and raids. Belgians responded by posting photos of cats with paws up and kitties in combat gear. Police gave thanks by tweeting a bowl of cat food.

On Thursday, the Belgian government lowered its security posture one notch to level three on its four-point scale. That action came on the eve of the unofficial start to its holiday shopping season.

"These were difficult days for Brussels, but we never lost confidence in our security services." Patrick Bontinck, a tourism official, said in a statement.

Syrian tourist Douri Zaharwi told the AP that he had hesitated about visiting Brussels but decided to come anyway.

"I was very sad and shocked," he said. "This country doesn't deserve something like this."