Carles Puigdemont: Fugitive former Catalan president arrested in Germany

Exiled leader wanted in Spain on rebellion and sedition charges detained by officials while attempting to cross border into Denmark

Fugitive former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont has been arrested in Germany.

The exiled separatist 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 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.

"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 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.

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.

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."

Mr Puigdemont is expected to have to appear before a judge on Monday, who will ask him if he agrees to be extradited to Spain.

Albert Rivera, leader of the pro-union Ciudadanos party, who has been a vocal critic of the ousted president and his independence allies, tweeted: "Coup leader Puigdemont's escape has been brought to an end.

"There should be no impunity for someone who tries to destroy a European democracy, flout democratic laws, fracture co-existence and misuse public funds to do so.

"The justice system has done its job."

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.