The Maltese police arrested a Macedonian national who is among a number of individuals forming part of a European criminal group sought by the Austrian authorities in connection with a series of explosive attacks on bank ATMs in Austria, the police said Wednesday.

Investigations in Austria began last year, and a total of 48 suspects were identified. The Vienna Prosecutor's Office issued European Arrest Warrants for them at the end of last October, the police said.

Early on Tuesday morning, an international operation was carried out in several European countries, including Malta. The operation in Malta was a joint effort between various sections of the Malta Police Force, during which a residence in St Paul's Bay was surrounded.

This followed investigations indicating that one of the suspects, a 29-year-old Macedonian man, was residing in Malta. He is one of the 29 individuals arrested so far.

The man was brought before the Court yesterday to begin the process for his extradition to Austria. He consented to face criminal proceedings there. He remains in custody, the police said.