About 150 locations suspected of being used by members of Internet child abuse networks were raided Tuesday morning during a vast action lunched by European police organization Europol.

According to a press release issued by Europol, based in the Dutch city of the Hague, most of the suspects are subject to further investigation as large quantities of equipment including computers, laptops, videos and other material containing images of child abuse were seized.

It said the operation, codenamed "Icebreaker", is the largest international police operation ever co-ordinated and supported by Europol.

Raids were carried out simultaneously across 13 countries and successfully targeted suspected members of internet child abuse networks who download and exchange pictures of molested children.

Police forces from Austria, Belgium, Britain, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia and Sweden were involved in the operation.

Europol Director Max-Peter Ratzel said the operation will lead the investigators to some of the producers "behind these evil deeds."

Source: Xinhua