Ten held in swoop on film pirates

TEN people have been arrested in raids carried out by police across Europe against hackers who distribute illegal copies of films and television series on the internet.

Five of the arrests took place in Belgium, where the computer crime unit led an operation that fanned out over 12 other countries, including Britain, Germany and France.

Belgium police spokeswoman Tine Hollevoet said that the other arrests were made in Poland, Norway and Sweden, where, together with Belgium, the alleged leaders of four computer piracy networks were being held.

Mr Hollevoet said the international raids sought to neutralise 48 computer servers distributing illegal material.

The suspects held in Belgium were charged with membership of a criminal organisation, computer fraud, hacking as well as internet piracy.