(THE HAGUE) - Prosecutors' group Eurojust said Tuesday that an alleged recruitment network for suicide bombers targetted in recent raids in Italy and across Europe had a clear link to Al-Qaeda.

"The organisation was aiming to commit terrorist actions in Italy, Afghanistan, Iraq and Arabic countries," said a statement from Eurojust, a Hague-based agency of the European Union dealing with judicial co-operation.

"There was a clear link to the Al-Qaeda group," said Eurojust, which played a coordinating role between the European security forces involved in the recent operation.

The Italian authorities announced the arrests on Tuesday of 11 people in Italy and said nine other suspects were being sought in France, Portugal and Britain under European arrest warrants issued by a Milan court.

The "very important operation has decapitated a jihadist network that operates across Europe ... with the aim of preparing men to send to the Iraqi and Afghan theatres," Italian Interior Minister Giuliano Amato said.

A Tunisian suspect was arrested in a Paris suburb, French officials said, while another suspect was picked up in Portugal, the Portuguese news agency LUSA reported.

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