Cartoons going viral as social media expresses solidarity

In the aftermath of the Brussels attacks, millions of people began sharing cartoons to show solidarity with the victims and their families.

At least 30 people were killed by two explosions at Zaventem Airport and a further blast on a train leaving the Maelbeek Metro station. A further 198 people have been injured with many people reported missing from.

Popular symbols used by cartoonists responding to the atrocity include fictional Belgian hero, Tintin, and the landmark Manneken Pis sculpture of a little boy urinating into a fountain.

The use of Tintin as a uniting symbol has been criticised by some due to what are widely perceived to be racist portrayals in comic books depicting the cartoon reporter.

But following the January 2015 attacks on the Paris-based satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo, cartoons have increasingly been used online to commemorate the attacks.

Many of them featured versions of ‘Manneken Pis’, Brussels’ landmark bronze sculpture of a small boy peeing into a fountain.

French comic artist Joann Sfar has the statue saying: “Piss quietly - is that too much to ask?” His caption reads: “My heart is with Brussels.”