WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department says more than 8,000 violent fugitives were arrested across the U.S. during a six-week operation.

Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates and the U.S. Marshals Service announced the results Wednesday of an initiative known as Operation Violence Reduction 12.

Yates calls the effort "targeted and focused" and says it focused on a dozen communities that have high rates of violent crime.

Officials say the marshals targeted people with open warrants for violent crimes such as murder, armed robbery and aggravated assault.

Among those arrested were 559 fugitives wanted for homicide, 648 gang members and 946 sex offenders.

One of the men arrested had been a fugitive for more than 15 years and was wanted in Ohio on charges of repeatedly raping a young child.