Right-wing extremist shot dead

Marcel Strebel made a name for himself at the end of the eighties Keystone

One of Switzerland's most notorious right-wing extremists, Marcel Strebel, has been shot dead. A person has been arrested in connection with the incident.

Police said Strebel was shot at a house in Burgdorf in canton Bern on Sunday where he was visiting a friend. Strebel and his friend’s son, who was also present, reportedly had an argument before the shooting.

The 31 year-old-son – who has not been identified – rang the authorities after the incident, according to police. He confessed to shooting Strebel and was detained.

The authorities said on Monday the circumstances of the shooting were not clear, but it did not appear to be politically motivated.

Strebel, 51, was condemned to a two-year prison sentence in 1999 for a shooting incident involving two Swiss policemen in 1994. But he fled Switzerland shortly before he was due to be sent to jail, leading the Swiss authorities to issue an international arrest warrant.

In February 2000, Strebel was arrested in Spain for puncturing tyres. Two months later, he chose to return to Switzerland of his own free will to face his sentence.

swissinfo with agencies