Crackdown on European child porn

Material from the first operation led to second wave of raids

Police have carried out a series of raids targeting child pornography suspects as part of a joint operation involving six European countries.

Dozens of addresses were raided and computers, DVDs and digital cameras were seized.

Operation Icebreaker II was carried out by the European police agency Europol in France, Italy, Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden and the UK.

It followed an operation in June that resulted in 130 arrests for child porn.

Both operations were led by Italy's Carabinieri police.

Europol said the Italians provided the initial intelligence based on various internet boards whose members' activities include possession and distribution of child abuse material.

No escape

They discovered that the network members used sophisticated techniques to hide electronic identities and to encrypt their communication.

The perpetrators have to realise that they cannot feel safe if they deal with child pornography Max-Peter Ratzel, Europol Director

Europol Director Max-Peter Ratzel said: "I am pleased to see a follow-up from the first co-ordinated action earlier this year.

"It is important to show the persons, who directly or indirectly are involved in a sexual abuse depriving children of their childhood, that they cannot stay anonymous behind a computer screen."

A Europol spokesman told the BBC News website that information recovered from computers and films seized in the first operation led to the raids on Wednesday.

He said the raids produced new evidence and links to new suspects. Material seized on Wednesday was still being analysed, he added.