Party headquarters of Germany's CDU defaced with graffiti

An unidentified assailant has defaced the party headquarters of Germany's conservative opposition party, the CDU, with graffiti police said on Sunday.

According to a police statement, a security guard noticed a person wearing a balaclava at around 3:30 am (0130 GMT).

The person is said to have scrawled red writing on the building in Berlin's central Tiergarten district.

The slogan daubed on the party headquarters was said to be related to the Middle East conflict.

The public prosecutor's office, which is responsible for politically motivated crimes, has taken over the investigation into property damage.

The culprit escaped unrecognised, it was said.

A CDU spokeswoman said that the writing had been taped over so that it could no longer be seen. It was to due be removed on Monday.