Mystery in Berlin: Antisemitic politician found dead in hotel room

Hubert Aiwanger, the deputy prime minister of Bavaria, was found dead in his hotel room in Berlin. Police are investigating the circumstances of his death, and a homicide unit has been brought in. Aiwanger was previously involved in a scandal over allegations of antisemitism.

Hubert Aiwanger, the deputy prime minister of Bavaria, was found dead in his hotel room in Berlin last night (Thursday). German police said the cause of death is unclear, but a homicide unit has been brought in to rule out third-party involvement. Michael Petzold, a spokesman for the Berlin public prosecutor's office, told Bild newspaper that there is no initial suspicion of a crime, but nothing can be ruled out. However, according to information obtained by Bild, Aiwanger had external injuries. Aiwanger, 55, became embroiled in a public scandal in August 2023 after former classmates accused him of regularly giving Nazi salutes and making jokes about Jews during high school. He claimed the allegations were a smear campaign and that he had not been antisemitic since his adulthood.