Croatia swoops on crime suspects

Croatia is under pressure from Brussels to crack down on gangs

Police in the Croatian capital Zagreb have begun raids targeting suspected organised crime figures amid pressure to curb violent crime.

A police spokesman said Operation Shock was aimed at "several people linked to the criminal milieu and unresolved crimes" but gave no further details.

Reports say that homes and cars of top crime suspects are being searched.

Tackling organised crime is a key demand Croatia must meet in order to join the European Union.

"A police action is under way, aimed at several people linked to the criminal milieu and unresolved crimes," said police spokesman Krunoslav Borovec on Wednesday.

Croatian media named several figures said to be targets of the operation, saying they were suspected of running crime gangs in Zagreb for years.

According to an unconfirmed report, police made at least six arrests.

A series of mafia-style killings prompted Croatia to declare a crackdown against organised crime at the end of October.

Victims that month included a newspaper editor and one of his colleagues, and the 26-year-old daughter of a prominent lawyer.

Croatia hopes to join the EU by 2010.