A 29-year-old Canadian porn actor, accused of killing a man and mailing his body parts to the country's top political parties, has been arrested in Germany, officials in both countries said. 

Luka Rocco Magnotta was apprehended on Monday in an internet cafe in Berlin after an employee at the cafe recognised him and alerted police, Berlin police spokeswoman Kerstin Ziesmer said.

Magnotta is wanted by Canadian authorities on first-degree murder and other charges. He is suspected of killing Jun Lin - a 33-year-old Chinese university student - and mailing the victim's body parts to Canadian political parties.

Julie Di Mambro, a spokesperson for Canada's Department of Justice, said that Canada had now to submit a formal request for his extradition, accompanied by documentation outlining the evidence supporting the request.

"Officials with the International Assistance Group are working expeditiously in conjunction with officials from the Attorney General of Quebec (the prosecuting authority) to prepare the materials in support of the request," said Di Mambro.

She added that Magnotta did not resist arrest, but said that German authorities were yet to independently confirm his identity.

The suspect is now being questioned, and will be brought before a judge behind closed-doors who will read out the international arrest warrant later, she said.

Interpol has placed Magnotta, who was last believed to be in Paris, on the equivalent of its most-wanted list.

Canadian police suspect Magnotta of killing and dismembering Lin, performing sexual acts with Lin's body parts and posting footage of his crimes online.