German national Christian Brueckner, the main suspect in the disappearance case of Madeleine McCann, has declined to cooperate with British authorities upon his release from incarceration. The Metropolitan Police disclosed that despite sending an official request for an interview to Brueckner, he turned down the opportunity to engage with them.
Brueckner, aged 49, remains under suspicion in connection with the vanishing of three-year-old Madeleine in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in 2007. Currently serving a seven-year prison term in Germany for the assault of an elderly woman in Praia da Luz in 2005, Brueckner may soon be set free. He has consistently denied any involvement in Madeleine McCann’s disappearance.
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Cranwell, leading the investigation on behalf of the Metropolitan Police, emphasized the commitment to pursuing all potential leads in the absence of direct communication with Brueckner. Collaborative efforts with German and Portuguese authorities have been ongoing for years to shed light on the events of May 3, 2007, in Praia da Luz.
Notably, a formal interview with the suspect has been sought through an International Letter of Request, which Brueckner has rejected citing legal grounds. Despite this setback, investigative efforts will persist. Limited information can be shared as the investigation remains active.
Various searches conducted by German, Portuguese, and British law enforcement have been conducted, including a recent one in Lagos. Brueckner’s presence in Praia da Luz from 2000 to 2017, along with his ties to a searched reservoir area, has been noted. Additionally, allegations of sexual offenses against Brueckner in Portugal were dismissed by a German court last year.
Funding for Operation Grange, the dedicated investigation by the Metropolitan Police, has surpassed £13.2 million since 2011, with additional financial support secured from the government earlier this year.