Person detained in probe of German politician’s death

BERLIN – German authorities say they have detained a person in their investigation of the fatal shooting a week ago of a regional official from Chancellor Angela Merkel’s party.

Walter Luebcke, who was in charge of the Kassel area regional administration, was found outside his home last Sunday by a relative. The homicide investigation was opened after an autopsy confirmed a pistol shot to the head, fired at close range, killed the 65-year-old Luebcke.

News agency dpa reports that a commission looking into the case said Saturday that a person had been taken into provisional custody, but would not give further details, citing the ongoing investigation.

The daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported earlier Saturday, without naming sources, that a man who was apparently a personal acquaintance of Luebcke’s had been arrested.