Munich - German prosecutors searched the offices Wednesday of troubled mortgage lender Hypo Real Estate, which has emerged as one of the nation's most prominent victims of the US subprime housing crisis.

Munich prosecutors said they searched Hypo Real Estate's premises as well as property linked to the lender's former board members.

The investigations relate to suspicions of market manipulation.

The fallout from the subprime crisis, which has now helped to push the global economy into a downturn, forced Hypo Real Estate to turn to the government for assistance earlier this year with the bank tapping Berlin's bank rescue fund. (dpa)