An extradition battle began yesterday over the fate of Carles Puigdemont, the fugitive former Catalan president, which threatens to worsen Spain’s political crisis and strain Europe.

Mr Puigdemont was remanded in custody in Germany last night, before an extradition decision expected within 60 days, as new details came to light about his arrest on Sunday.

Twelve Spanish secret service agents tracked Mr Puigdemont, 55, across Europe for four days before pouncing. He flew to Finland on Thursday to talk to MPs in Helsinki, but by the time he was due to return to Belgium on Friday the supreme court in Madrid had issued an international warrant for his arrest to answer charges of rebellion, which carry a jail term of up to 30 years.

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