Hubert Aiwanger, prominent German politician, found dead in Berlin hotel

Police and prosecutors open investigation into death of the 55-year-old Bavarian state deputy leader

A prominent German politician was found dead in a Berlin hotel on Wednesday, police said, adding they had launched an investigation.

The cause of death of Hubert Aiwanger, 55, who was deputy leader of southern Bavaria state, was not immediately clear.

Police said in a statement he was “found dead in his hotel room” in the Berlin-Mitte district.

Police and prosecutors had opened a probe to “determine the specific cause and circumstances of death”, the statement said.

“The aim ⁠of the inquest is to establish the specific cause of death and the circumstances surrounding it, and to rule out any possible third-party culpability,” police and prosecutors said in a statement. They gave no further details.