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Carles Puigdemont: Fugitive former Catalan president arrested in Germany Carles Puigdemont: Fugitive former Catalan president arrested in Germany
(35 minutes later)
Fugitive former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont has been arrested in Germany.Fugitive former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont has been arrested in Germany.
The exiled politician was detained on a European Arrest Warrant by German police on Sunday while attempting to cross the border into Denmark. The exiled sepratist politician was detained on a European Arrest Warrant by German police on Sunday while attempting to cross the border into Denmark.
His solicitor, Jaume Alonso-Cuevillas said on Twitter Mr Puigdemont had been intending to travel back to Belgium, where he had been staying since fleeing Spain in October. His solicitor, Jaume Alonso-Cuevillas said on Twitter Mr Puigdemont had been intending to travel back to Belgium, where he has resided since fleeing Spain in October.
"President Carles Puigdemont was held in Germany when he crossed the border from Denmark, on his way to Belgium from Finland," the lawyer said."President Carles Puigdemont was held in Germany when he crossed the border from Denmark, on his way to Belgium from Finland," the lawyer said.
"The treatment has been correct at all times. By now he is at a police station and his legal defence is already activated."The treatment has been correct at all times. By now he is at a police station and his legal defence is already activated.
"The president was going to Belgium to put himself, as always, at the disposal of Belgian justice.""The president was going to Belgium to put himself, as always, at the disposal of Belgian justice."
The politician has been living in exile following a failed bid by his regional Catalan government to declare independence from Spain. The former Catalan leader has been living in exile following a failed bid by his regional government to declare independence from Spain.
A Spanish Supreme Court judge reactivated an international arrest warrant for Mr Puigdemont on Friday when he was visiting Finland.A Spanish Supreme Court judge reactivated an international arrest warrant for Mr Puigdemont on Friday when he was visiting Finland.
He had evaded capture and slipped out of the country after it became clear Finnish authorities intended to act on the warrant and launch an extradition process to Spain.He had evaded capture and slipped out of the country after it became clear Finnish authorities intended to act on the warrant and launch an extradition process to Spain.
Mr Puigdemont could face up to 25 years in prison if he returns to Spain on charges of rebellion and sedition for organising the illegal referendum in Catalonia that led to the region's unilateral declaration of independence in October. A spokesman for Spanish state prosecutors said: "Following the arrest of Carles Puigdemont, Spain's State Prosecution is in contact with Germany's State Prosecution Service and Eurojust to make sure they have all the documentation they need."
In a statement, German police said Mr Puigdemont was detained near a section of the A7 highway in the northern state of Schleswig-Holstein, which cuts through the state from the city of Flensburg. 
The force did not disclose exactly where Mr Puigdemont was being held, but reports suggest he had been taken to a police station in Schuby, around 20 miles from the Danish border.
Mr Puigdemont could face up to 25 years in prison if he returns to Spain on charges of rebellion and sedition for organising an illegal referendum in Catalonia that led to the region's unilateral declaration of independence in October.
He is one of 13 Catalan separatist politicians who were charged with rebellion offences by Spanish judges last week.
The orders included six international arrest warrants for fugitives now living outside Spain.
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