British police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, the British toddler who vanished in Portugal in 2007, say that a 49-yr-old German man remains a suspect, though he has declined to be interviewed, reports RTE.
Christian Brueckner, who was living in Portugal’s Algarve region at the time of Madeleine’s disappearance, is expected to be released from prison in Germany later this month.
He was initially identified as a suspect by both British and German authorities in 2020, reports RTE.
“We have requested an interview with this German suspect but… it was subsequently refused by the suspect,” said DCI Mark Cranwell, Senior Investigating Officer with the UK’s Metropolitan Police, in a statement, reports RTE.
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Madeleine disappeared on 3 May 2007 during a family holiday in the Algarve resort town of Praia da Luz, triggering a massive international search effort and widespread media coverage.
Her whereabouts remain unknown, reports RTE.
According to the statement, Brueckner continues to be considered a suspect by the Metropolitan Police, who are aware that his release from prison is imminent.
The 49-year-old is currently serving time for the rape of a 72-year-old woman in the same region of the Algarve and has prior convictions for child abuse and drug offences, reports RTE.
Police say they will continue to follow any credible lines of inquiry related to the case.
In June, Portuguese and German authorities carried out a four-day search in the Algarve for potential evidence linked to Madeleine’s disappearance, reports RTE.
“We can provide no further information while the investigation is ongoing. Any questions about the conditions around his release should be directed to the German authorities,” the statement continued, reports RTE.
German police declared in June 2020 that they believe Madeleine is deceased and named Brueckner as the likely perpetrator.
Brueckner has denied having any role in the case and has not been formally charged in connection with her disappearance, reports RTE.
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