Madeleine McCann RECAP: Gun found at Portugal search site may be game changer
A major update has emerged regarding the guns found during the Madeleine McCann search last week – it comes after two guns as well as animal bones and clothing were discovered
One of the two guns found during the recent Madeleine McCann searches in Portugal is a semi-automatic that has not yet been ruled out as a potentially game-changing piece of evidence.
The 6.35 calibre weapon was discovered near prime suspect Christian Brueckner’s former cottage in the Algarve near where the British girl vanished in 2007. The other gun police discovered has been ruled out as a “rusting relic”.
It comes after Portuguese police revealed what would happen to the items discovered, which also included clothing and animal bones. Initial reports said the items were being sent back to Germany for forensic analysis – though this has been denied by Portuguese investigating sources.
This live blog has now ended.
Bradley Jolly
What we know about Madeleine McCann’s disappearance
Madeleine McCann vanished on May 3 while she was on holiday with her family at the Ocean Club in Praia da Luz.
Her parents went out for dinner with some friends while she and her brother and sister stayed at the holiday flat about 100 yards away.
The adults had a rota system and, when it was Kate McCann’s turn to check on the children, she found Madeleine was missing.
Police were then alerted and guests at the complex started to search for Madeleine.
Bradley Jolly
How much has Britain spent on operation to find Madeleine McCann?
The UK has spent several million pounds in its efforts to find out any information about Madeleine McCann.
Funding given to Operation Grange has reached more than £13.2million since 2011.
As of 2022, there were five Metropolitan police officers who were working on the case.
Anders Anglesey
Sickening items found at Brueckner property
Several sickening items were found at the Brueckner property, an explosive documentary revealed.
According to The Sun’s documentary, police searching the property discovered more than 70 children’s swimsuits, a toddler’s bike, inflatable toy, and a cache of images on an 80GB hard drive, which were allegedly taken in Portugal.
They also found a laptop, masks and guns, alongside a handwritten story about using drugs to kidnap a woman and child from outside a preschool.
Anders Anglesey
Investigators detail found ‘archaeological artefacts’
Portuguese investigators described some of the finds made during the recent search in Praia da Luz.
One investigator, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said of the gun that was discovered: “The objects found are very old and very rusty. I’d describe them almost as archaeological artefacts.”
Another well-placed insider added: “One has already been ruled out as having any connection to the Maddie inquiry. A separate investigation is underway to try to establish how it ended up where it did and what exactly it is.”
Anders Anglesey
Brueckner’s depraved message to other paedophile
Prime Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner made a harrowing comment to another paedophile, according to claims.
A new Channel 4 documentary, produced with The Sun, found images of children in swimming costumes at his property.
In a harrowing admission, Brueckner allegedly said he wanted to “capture something small and use it for days.”
The paedophile added it would not matter if “evidence is destroyed afterwards” as he would “make a lot of films.”
Brueckner is the prime suspect in the Madeleine McCann case (
Image:
The Daily Mirror)
Zahra Khaliq
Latest update from German cops
German prosecutors said following their latest search: “The search operation conducted in Portugal last week has been completed as planned. No information can be provided at this time regarding the results of the investigation.
“Our sincere thanks go to all police officers involved in the search. The co-operation between the Portuguese police and the Federal Criminal Police Office was excellent and very constructive.
“We don’t want to say anymore at the moment.”
Zahra Khaliq
Gun found in search not ruled out as significant lead
Last week, firefighters drained a well and retrieved a gun during fresh Madeleine McCann searches on the Algarve.
The weapon has not been ruled out as a significant find by investigators.
It comes as German prosecutors described the co-operation with Portuguese police as “excellent and very constructive” – with both forces trying to build up a case against suspect Christian Brueckner ahead of his release from jail in September.
Tim Hanlon
German prosecutor says work with Portuguese counterparts was ‘very constructive’
Head prosecutor in Braunschweig, Hans Christian Wolters, said the co-operation between the Portuguese and German authorities during the latest Madeleine McCann search was “very constructive”.
The three-day search in connection with the disappearance of Madeleine McCann concluded as planned, German prosecutors have said.
They had requested the search as part of their continued attempts to source evidence to implicate prime suspect Christian Brueckner. He is in prison for raping a 72-year-old woman in Praia da Luz in 2005 and is due to be released from jail in September if no further charges are brought.
Brueckner reportedly sent a letter to police saying “decisive questions can never be answered”. And another letter shows the suspect telling Mr Wolters that “the investigation will be dropped”.
Gerard Couzens
One of the firearms has been ruled out as police say ‘relic’ couldn’t fire
Portuguese daily Correio da Manha reported yesterday the firearm was unlikely to be a “lethal weapon” although tests are understood to be ongoing.
It has not yet been ruled out as a potential game-changer in the ‘race against time’ to charge Brueckner over Madeleine’s disappearance before he finishes the seven-year prison sentence he is currently serving for the 2005 rape of an American OAP.
Another gun said to have been found during last week’s searches has been ruled out. It is believed to be more than 50 years old and has been described by Portuguese sources as a “rusting relic.”
Gerard Couzens
Gun found at bottom of well described as “more recent”
One of the objects described as a gun was found at the bottom of a well emptied by firefighters last week.
Portuguese daily Correio da Manha reported today it appeared to be “more recent” than the other firearm which is believed to be more than 50 years old and has been ruled out as a possible piece of evidence in the Madeleine McCann case.
The newspaper went on to add: “The more recent weapon is unlikely to be a lethal weapon” before confirming all the material unearthed last week was in a Lisbon police lab for analysis in Portugal and not Germany as previous reports had indicated.
Gerard Couzens
Gun retrieved in Madeleine McCann search effort identified as 6.35 firearm
The gun retrieved from a well drained by firefighters last week during fresh Madeleine McCann searches on the Algarve is a 6.35 calibre, well-placed sources said today.
Further details emerged hours after German prosecutors described the co-operation with Portuguese police as “excellent and very constructive” as authorities in both countries continue to try to build up a case against suspect Christian Brueckner ahead of his scheduled release from prison in September.
The type of gun discovered during the three-day search operation last week near Brueckner’s former ramshackle cottage home close to the Algarve resort where Madeleine vanished on May 3 2007, has not yet been revealed.
KEY EVENT
More details on gun found in well during last week’s searches
A gun retrieved from a well drained by firefighters last week during fresh Madeleine McCann searches is a 6.35 calibre, well-placed sources said today.
New details emerged hours after German prosecutors described the co-operation with Portuguese police as “excellent and very constructive” as authorities in both countries continue to try to build up a case against suspect Christian Brueckner ahead of his scheduled release from prison in September.
The type of gun discovered during the three-day search operation last week near Brueckner’s former ramshackle cottage home close to the Algarve resort where Madeleine vanished on May 3 2007, has not yet been revealed.
Typically 6.35 calibre guns are small, pocket-sized, semi-automatic pistols used for self-defence or fun target shooting, but can be airguns.
Portuguese daily Correio da Manha reported yesterday it was unlikely to be a “lethal weapon”, although tests are understood to be ongoing.
Paige Ingram
All evidence linking Christian Brueckner from hard drive to ‘confession’
Convicted rapist and paedophile Christian Brueckner is at the centre of a desperate race against time to find new evidence in the Madeleine McCann case. Here’s five reasons why police believe he could be their man:
His time in Portugal
His time in Germany – and ‘confession’
Unearthed hard drive and more ‘confessions’
His court appearances on other offences
‘Clothes and bones’ found in new search
Read the full story here.
Anders Anglesey
RECAP: Three key pieces of evidence unearthed in search for toddler
Detectives searching for clues to the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have unearthed several pieces of evidence which have been sent to Germany for analysis, sources say. Crews of German and Portuguese investigators spent three days scouring scrubland and abandoned structures including an area where prime suspect Christian Brueckner was living at the time the three-year-old vanished on May 3 2007.
Cops are trying to unearth new evidence linking the German paedophile, 48, to Maddie’s disappearance before he is released from jail. He is currently caged for the rape of a 72-year-old US woman in Praia da Luz, Portugal in 2005 but is due to walk free in September after completing his sentence. Madeleine McCann vanished on May 3 while she was on holiday with her family at the Ocean Club in Praia da Luz.
To read more, click here.
Anders Anglesey
Purpose of separate Portuguese inquiry
A separate inquiry is ongoing in Portugal as German investigators search for clues related to the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.
A well-placed police source added: “The idea is that Portuguese investigators check first whether anything relevant to their inquiry is found and all the results get sent back to Germany once the analysis has been done. German forensic experts have been invited to attend the tests in Portugal.
“They were shown some of the bones that were unearthed last week in a video-conferencing session but couldn’t come to any real conclusions about exactly what they were via the screen they were seeing them on. What we can say for sure is that no samples of any kind recovered during last week’s searches have been taken out of Portugal despite reports to the contrary.”
Anders Anglesey
New evidence could ‘significantly strengthen’ case, say cops
Police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann could “significantly strengthen” their case against prime suspect Christian Brueckner following the discovery of new evidence, according to an expert.
Professor of Forensic Science at the University of Kent, Robert Green, believes discovering “mask, guns, and hard drive” may warrant a more “thorough investigation” into Brueckner’s past.
He told The Mirror: “The discovery of items such as a mask, guns, and particularly the hard drive, indicates a potential link to further criminal activity, which may warrant a more thorough investigation of the suspect’s past.
“The rationale behind the renewed search could stem from the ongoing pursuit of justice in the Madeleine McCann case and the hope that any additional evidence could lead to a breakthrough. Investigators continually assess existing evidence and pursue lines of inquiry they believe could be fruitful, especially in cases that have remained unresolved for many years.”
Brueckner pictured inside the kiosk he ran in Braunschweig in the early 2000s (
Image:
Daily Mirror)
Anders Anglesey
Portuguese investigators’ find ‘ruled out’ for Madeleine connection
A well-placed source in the Portuguese investigation team said some of the objects found during the search were “very old and very rusty.
The source added: “One has already been ruled out as having any connection to the Maddie inquiry. A separate investigation is underway to try to establish how it ended up where it did and what exactly it is.”
KEY EVENT
Major update on guns found at Portuguese search site
One of the objects described as a gun was found at the bottom of a well emptied by firefighters last week.
Portuguese daily Correio da Manha reported today it appeared to be “more recent” than the other firearm which is believed to be more than 50 years old and has been ruled out as a possible piece of evidence in the Madeleine McCann case.
Anders Anglesey
What investigators found in latest Madeleine McCann search
German police and Portuguese investigators found several items during their latest search at a site close to the resort in Praia da Luz where Madeleine McCann vanished.
Investigators discovered bone fragments and clothing samples, according to reports.
The “animal bones and old adult clothing” were found during the dig and search last week.
Several other items were found that German police will look at in relation to their investigation.
Investigators searched for any clues in connection with Madeleine McCann (
Image:
PA)
Tim Hanlon
German prosecutor says work with Portuguese counterparts was ‘very constructive’
Head prosecutor in Braunschweig, Hans Christian Wolters, said the co-operation between the Portuguese and German authorities during the latest Madeleine McCann search was “very constructive”.
The three-day search in connection with the disappearance of Madeleine McCann concluded as planned, German prosecutors have said.
They had requested the search as part of their continued attempts to source evidence to implicate prime suspect Christian Brueckner. He is in prison for raping a 72-year-old woman in Praia da Luz in 2005 and is due to be released from jail in September if no further charges are brought.
Brueckner reportedly sent a letter to police saying “decisive questions can never be answered”. And another letter shows the suspect telling Mr Wolters that “the investigation will be dropped”.
Tim Hanlon
Uncovered note from Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner mocks police
Prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, Christian Brueckner, has written a sickening letter from jail in which he claimed they would never find evidence against him.
The convicted German paedophile, currently in prison for raping a pensioner, mocked cops in his shocking note which pointed out a body has not been found yet.
The disgusting letter said: “Is there a body? No, no no.” These chilling words have been revealed after German police ditched their renewed search into areas around Praia da Luz, where the toddler was last seen 18 years ago.
The suspect and convicted sex offender also lived in the area at the time the tot vanished. The vile note questioned whether his DNA has ever been found at the scene and whether traces of the toddler were ever discovered in his vehicle.
He wrote: “Are there other traces/DNA carriers of the injured party in my possession? Photos? And, not to forget, is there a body/corpse? All no, no no.” He added that the accusations against him “will not hold up and that the investigation will be dropped”.
Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas
German police remain tight-lipped about search
German prosecutors have declined to provide any information about the results of last week’s search.
This started last Tuesday near the ramshackle cottage home where convicted paedophile Brueckner used to live and is close to the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz where Madeleine vanished on May 3 2007.
The operation was wrapped up on Thursday evening after wells, ruins and water tanks on more than 20 privately-owned plots of land spanning a 120-acre area were inspected.
Gerard Couzens
Items found ‘unlikely to have anything to do with Brueckner or Madeleine’
That’s the view of the investigative source in Portugal today as they insisted that the finds were not being sent to Germany, as previously reported.
They said: “The feeling on the Portuguese side at least is that what’s been unearthed during last week’s searches is unlikely to have anything to do with the suspect Christian Brueckner or the Madeleine McCann investigation.”
Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas
Forensic tests taking place in Portugal, not Germany, investigators say
The forensic analysis of fragments believed to be animal bones and other tiny piece of adult clothing has been booked in at a Portuguese police scientific laboratory in Lisbon, and the results will be sent back to German prosecutors, investigators in Portugal insisted today.
The well-placed Portuguese insider said German forensic officers had been offered the opportunity of being present at the tests, although it was unclear today if they had accepted the invite.
Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas
Guns found are ‘old and rusty’
A Portuguese investigator, speaking on condition of anonymity, also commented on the reports of guns being found at the search site.
He said: “The objects found are very old and very rusty. I’d describe them almost as archaeological artefacts.”
Another well-placed insider added: “One has already been ruled out as having any connection to the Maddie inquiry. A separate investigation is underway to try to establish how it ended up where it did and what exactly it is.”
KEY EVENT
Portuguese investigators issue verdict on new finds in Madeleine McCann search
No samples of any kind have been sent back to Germany following the Madeleine McCann searches last week, Portuguese investigators have said.
Portuguese sources insisted today that reports about German police taking back fragments of bone and clothing were misplaced – and said analysis of material unearthed is being done in Portugal.
They also reacted to claims two guns had been found by confirming objects had been discovered – but predicting they would prove unrelated to the Maddie inquiry.
One is already at the centre of a separate investigation after being dismissed as “irrelevant” to the ongoing Madeleine McCann probe.
Read more: Portuguese investigators issue verdict on new finds in Madeleine McCann search
Portuguese police have issued a new update after reports of finds during last week’s search (
Image:
PA)
Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas
German prosecutors continue to build case against Brueckner
Last year, Christian Brueckner was acquitted of carrying out five other sexual offences in Portugal between 2000 and 2017 after a judge in Braunschweig said there was not enough evidence to convict him.
But German investigators – determined to keep the dangerous Brueckner behind bars – have continued to build a case against him regarding the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.
Last year, one police source revealed they had gained access to a Hotmail account which contained messaged allegedly ‘related to the killing’ of the young girl.
In May this year, he returned to court on charges of insulting a public official.
Despite prosecutors urging for an extended sentence, he was only given probation with a minimum of one additional month in prison.
Before one of his court appearances, the Mirror asked him if he knew what had happened to Madeleine McCann. He responded with a smirk.
Liam Buckler
Police’s ‘major breakthrough’ in Christian Brueckner probe over disappearance
Police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann could “significantly strengthen” their case against suspect Christian Brueckner following new evidence, according to an expert.
According to a harrowing new Madeleine McCann documentary, horrific evidence found at Christian Breuckner’s property included images of children in swimming costumes, toddler toys, and sickening child kidnapping stories.
An 80gb hard drive was found consisting of images and a laptop key, which may have prompted investigators to link the suspect to Madeleine’s disappearance.
Read more: Madeleine McCann police’s major breakthrough in Christian Brueckner probe over disappearance
Christian Brueckner, the prime suspect in the Madeleine McCann case
Joe Smith
Three key pieces of evidence unearthed in search for toddler
Detectives searching for clues to the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have unearthed several pieces of evidence which have been sent to Germany for analysis, sources say.
Crews of German and Portuguese investigators spent three days scouring scrubland and abandoned structures including an area where prime suspect Christian Brueckner was living at the time the three-year-old vanished on May 3, 2007.
Read more: Three key pieces of evidence unearthed in search for toddler
Teams of German and Portuguese investigators scoured an area of scrubland and ruined buildings looking for clues (
Image:
Andy Commins / Daily Mirror)
Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas
‘Child kidnap stories’ and ‘guns’ said to have been found in Brueckner’s old warehouse
While German authorities have been tight-lipped about what information they have linking Christian Brueckner to the Madeleine McCann case, some details have been made public.
According to a new documentary, suspicious items found in a German warehouse bought by Brueckner a year after Madeleine’s disappearance included guns, 75 girl’s swimming costumes, and a car with chemicals hidden in the boot.
Remains of a dead dog were uncovered along with a hard-drive, as well as a number of child kidnap stories believed to have been penned by the paedophile.
A former inmate in the same prison as Brueckner has also alleged that he once told him about a number of offences he had committed, including reportedly snatching a girl from a flat in Portugal.
Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas
Brueckner’s time in Germany – and ‘confession’
Christian Brueckner abruptly left his car in someone else’s name the day after Madeleine McCann disappeared, and exited Portugal soon after.
He returned to Germany and settled in the city of Braunschweig, near Hanover.
But in 2017, German police received a tip-off alleging that Brueckner had drunkenly claimed he knew what happened to Madeleine. He said to have told a friend: “She didn’t scream.”
Detectives’ initial enquiries uncovered a long criminal history, and in June 2017 he was arrested again and convicted for ‘sexual abuse of a child in the act of creating and possessing child pornographic material’ in a separate case.
Further convictions for drug dealing and trafficking followed over the next few years, and he was handed a seven-year-sentence in 2019 over the 2007 rape of an American pensioner in Portugal.
Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas
‘Guns found’ in last week’s search along with ‘bones and clothing fragments’
Two firearms were unearthed by police during last week’s search for Madeleine McCann and have since been shipped back to Germany for examination, according to reports last night.
Bone and clothing fragments are also undergoing testing after being found at the scene.
Details about the type of weapons discovered remain undisclosed.
Although the bones are believed to be animal remains, analysis will be conducted on some of the smaller pieces.
The joint task force of German and Portuguese detectives finished their three-day operation across a 120-acre site in Lagos, Portugal last Thursday.
Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas
Who is Christian Brueckner?
German paedophile Christian Brueckner is currently serving a seven-year prison sentence in Germany for raping a 72-year-old woman in Portugal in 2005.
He’s currently under investigation by police in his home country on suspicion of murder in the Madeleine McCann case, but hasn’t been charged.
He spent many years in Portugal, including in Praia da Luz, around the time of her disappearance.
The 48-year-old was first convicted of child sex offences in the early 1990s, when he was only a teenager himself, and also has a string of burglaries on his record.
Bradley Jolly
What we know about Madeleine McCann’s disappearance
Madeleine McCann vanished on May 3 while she was on holiday with her family at the Ocean Club in Praia da Luz.
Her parents went out for dinner with some friends while she and her brother and sister stayed at the holiday flat about 100 yards away.
The adults had a rota system and, when it was Kate McCann’s turn to check on the children, she found Madeleine was missing.
Police were then alerted and guests at the complex started to search for Madeleine.
Bradley Jolly
How much has Britain spent on operation to find Madeleine McCann?
The UK has spent several million pounds in its efforts to find out any information about Madeleine McCann.
Funding given to Operation Grange has reached more than £13.2million since 2011.
As of 2022, there were five Metropolitan police officers who were working on the case.
Bradley Jolly
Praia da Luz residents hope for closure
The residents of Praia da Luz have said they hope the family of Madeleine McCann will “get closure.”
Long-term residents in the resort town said they hoped the search would bring the family much-needed closure.
Speaking to the BBC, residents said: “We hope her family get closure.”
Benjamin Lynch
Police search for smoking gun – expert
Images of children in swimming costumes, toddler toys, and sick kidnapping stories written by Breuckner, and a hard drive were all found at a property in Neuwegersleben, Germany linked to Brueckner, according to a new documentary.
Professor of Forensic Science at the University of Kent, Robert Green, believes the decision from authorities to carry out searches into Brueckner’s lair could serve as a “smoking gun”.
He told The Mirror: “The authorities’ decision to carry out a new search, it is likely influenced by the accumulation of new evidence and information that may have come to light, particularly from recent documentaries and interviews.
“As for the hard drive, if it contains incriminating evidence, it may indeed serve as a ‘smoking gun’ for investigators. Digital evidence often provides invaluable insights into a suspect’s activities, intentions, and potential connections to criminal cases. Should the contents be substantial, they could significantly strengthen the case against Brueckner.”
Madeleine McCann prime suspect Christian Brueckner (L) (Image: Phil Harris)
Benjamin Lynch
Brueckner’s court appearances
Last year, Brueckner was acquitted of carrying out five other sexual offences in Portugal between 2000 and 2017 after a judge in Braunschweig said there was not enough evidence to convict him.
But German investigators – determined to keep the dangerous Brueckner behind bars – have continued to build a case against him regarding Madeleine McCann.
In May this year, he returned to court on charges of insulting a public official. Despite prosecutors urging for an extended sentence, he was only given probation with a minimum of one additional month in prison.
Before one of his court appearances, the Mirror asked him if he knew what had happened to Madeleine McCann. He responded with a smirk.
Benjamin Lynch
Brueckner’s hard drive
While investigators have been tight-lipped about what information they have linking him to Madeleine, some details have made their way into the public domain.
According to a documentary by The Sun, suspicious items found in a German warehouse bought by Brueckner a year after Madeleine’s disappearance included guns, 75 girl’s swimming costumes, and a car with chemicals hidden in the boot.
Remains of a dead dog were uncovered along with a hard-drive, as well as a number of child kidnap stories believed to have been penned by the paedophile.
A former inmate in the same prison as Brueckner has also alleged that he once told him about a number of offences he had committed, including reportedly snatching a girl from a flat in Portugal.
Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas
Christian Brueckner’s time in Portugal
Convicted rapist and paedophile Christian Brueckner is at the centre of a desperate race against time to find new evidence in the Madeleine McCann case.
Police are looking into his time In Portugal where he lived a nomadic lifestyle in a VW camper van and stole from hotels and holiday flats to support himself financially. He spent time in the Praia de Luz area of Portugal between 2000 and 2017. His home was just one mile away from the Ocean Club, where the McCann family were staying when Madeleine vanished on May 3, 2007.
In 2005, he raped a 72-year-old American woman, an offence for which he was jailed 14 years later
Years later, investigators reportedly found his mobile phone had received a call close to the holiday flat complex around one hour before the three-year-old was reported missing.
Ethan Blackshaw
Guns, bones and clothes to be sent for analysis
The Olive Press reports the guns, bones and clothing reportedly found during the latest round of Madeleine McCann searches will now be sent off for forensic analysis.
While the bones are said to be from animals, there are some smaller fragments which supposedly need looking at in closer detail.
Police during the recent search in Portugal (Image: PA)
KEY EVENT
Police ‘found buried guns’ during latest search
Police reportedly found two guns in the search for Madeleine McCann last week.
The firearms have now been sent back to Germany for analysis, along with fragments of bones and clothing which had already been reported, according to The Olive Press
Madeleine McCann police found ‘two buried guns’ in latest Portugal search
Benjamin Lynch
What have the McCann family said?
Kate and Gerry McCann don’t often comment on the search for their daughter these days, with their last update coming on May 3 this year.
On the 18th anniversary of Madeleine’s disappearance, they said: “The years appear to be passing even more quickly and whilst we have no significant news to share, our determination to ‘leave no stone unturned’ is unwavering. We will do our utmost to achieve this.”
They added: “May is also Madeleine’s birthday – her 22nd this year. No matter how near or far she is, she continues to be right here with us, every day, but especially on her special day. We continue to ‘celebrate’ her as the very beautiful and unique person she is. We miss her.”
Benjamin Lynch
What are police analysing?
Police in Germany are inspecting tiny fragments of clothes and bone.
A source told the Berlin Morning Post: “Several objects have apparently been discovered, which are now being examined in more detail by the police in the laboratory. As Portuguese media report, clothing debris and bones were found, among other things..
“The investigators have not officially commented on whether the finds could have anything to do with Madeleine’s disappearance but that is clearly their hope.”
Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas
Christian Brueckner’s time in Portugal explained
Brueckner spent time in the Praia de Luz area of Portugal between 2000 and 2017.
His home was just one mile away from the Ocean Club, where the McCann family were staying when Madeleine vanished on May 3, 2007.
Years later, investigators reportedly found his mobile phone had received a call close to the holiday flat complex around one hour before the three-year-old was reported missing.
In 2005, he raped a 72-year-old American woman, an offence for which he was jailed 14 years later.
Brueckner was living a mile away from Ocean Club in Praia Da Luz at the time Madeleine went missing (Image: PA)
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Liam Doyle
Maddie McCann’s brother Sean tipped for Team GB stardom at Olympics
Madeleine McCann’s university student brother Sean is tipped to become an Olympic athlete.
Sean and his twin sister Amelie were just two years old when their sister disappeared 18 years ago in the Algarve in 2007.
Today 20-year-old Sean has become a highly accomplished swimmer tipped to join Team GB in Los Angeles in 2028.
Recently Sean was captured on camera with a gold medal around his neck after competing in a Mediterranean open water swimming competition.
Read more: Madeleine McCann’s brother Sean tipped for Team GB stardom at Olympics
Sean McCann is an accomplished swimmer (Image: Getty Images )
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KEY EVENT
Madeleine McCann cops probe samples of ‘clothes and bones found in new dig’
Police are investigating samples of ‘clothes and bones’ found in last week’s search for Madeleine McCann, it is claimed.
On Thursday, a team of German and Portuguese investigators wrapped up a three-day search along a 120-acre stretch of land in Lagos, Portugal, in their latest attempt to find new evidence against prime suspect Christian Brueckner.
Initial reports suggested the operation – which took place 30 miles from where the three-year-old went missing in May 2007 – had failed to turn up any new leads.
But now, it has been claimed that fragments of clothing and bones have been sent off for testing this week after being found at the scene.
Read more: Madeleine McCann cops find ‘clothing and bones’ as they probe samples from dig
Search teams were out once again last week in hopes of finding answers to Madeleine McCann’s disappearance (Image: PA)
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Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas
Woman who claims to have been attacked by Brueckner fears he will ‘hunt her down’
A woman who alleged she was raped at knifepoint by the main suspect in the Madeleine McCann case says she fears he will seek her out following his release from prison.
Christian Brueckner, 48, is due to be freed from a German jail in September after completing his sentence for the rape of a 72-year-old US woman in Praia da Luz, Portugal in 2005.
Hazel Behan, 41, from Ireland, who has waived her right to anonymity, said she fears the German man will “hunt her down”.
Brueckner was acquitted by a German court in relation to the charge of violent rape of Ms Behan at her apartment in Praia da Rocha in Portugal’s Algarve.
She told The Sun: “His sentence may be ending but mine never did. I have lived with fear every day for 21 years.
“Fear that I’ll see him. Fear that he’ll find out where I live and hunt me down. I also have fear that he’ll do to someone else what he did to me.
“I’ve called him out in a public forum and I have genuine concern he could confront me.”
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Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas
Unclear when letter was written
It’s not yet clear when the letter, in which Brueckner criticises the police, was written.
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Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas
Brueckner ‘mocks police’ over Madeleine investigation in letter
A newly uncovered letter from lead suspect Christian Brueckner is said to mock German police’s attempts to link him to the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.
In the handwritten note, seen by German newspaper Bild, he reportedly writes: “Are there any traces of her in my vehicle? Any other traces of her in my possession? Photos? Is there a body? No, no, no.”
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Bradley Jolly
How much has UK spent of operation to find Madeleine McCann?
The UK has spent several million pounds in its efforts to find out any information about Madeleine McCann.
Funding given to Operation Grange has reached more than £13.2million since 2011.
As of 2022, there were five Metropolitan police officers who were working on the case.
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Bradley Jolly
Praia da Luz residents hope for closure
The residents of Praia da Luz have said they hope the family of Madeleine McCann will “get closure.”
Long-term residents in the resort town said they hoped the search would bring the family much-needed closure.
Speaking to the BBC, residents said: “We hope her family get closure.”
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Anders Anglesey
Madeleine McCann: New evidence found in Christian Brueckner lair – toys to 80GB hard drive
An explosive new Madeleine McCann documentary has revealed new bombshell evidence that may prove that Christian Brueckner is the prime suspect in the case. The new film hones in on circumstantial evidence found in his lair that points directly to why German national Brueckner is the prime suspect in the case that has gripped the world since Madeleine vanished in 2007.
Clues have been few and far between since little Madeleine disappeared during a family holiday to the Algarve some 18 years ago. The investigation uncovers the disturbing finds at Brueckner’s abandoned factory as well as his sickening obsession with young children.
To read more, click here.
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Anders Anglesey
Brueckner 80gb hard drive details
The documentary revealed the existence of an 80gb hard drive that contains images and a laptop key, which might have persuaded police to launch another phase of the investigation.
The hard drive also put Brueckner at the location of Arades Dam, in Portugal.
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KEY EVENT
Madeleine McCann documentary reveals new evidence bombshell
A new TV documentary has compiled a host of circumstantial evidence, including images of children in swimming costumes as well as toddler toys found at his property.
The documentary also reveals how a mask, guns and Brueckner’s confession to using chemical ether to take a mum and her child outside a school.
A document also put the suspect at the location of a search for Madeleine McCann where he allegedly said “she did not scream” as he discussed the British toddler with an associate.
It also reveals harrowing kidnap stories where Brueckner wrote: “A very small girl enters the room. She’s definitely not older than five.”
The new documentary casts more light on Christian Brueckner (Image: Phil Harris)
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Anders Anglesey
What neighbours said about chief Madeleine McCann suspect?
An ex-neighbour previously desribed convicted paedophile Christian Brueckner as an “angry young man.”
The neighbour, who lived in the same town where Madeleine vanished in 2007, recalled Brueckner had regular arguments with his then girlfriend.
The neigbhour told The Independent: “If was riding past and he’d be standing outside, we’d say hello, you know how are you.” She added: “Nothing more. Then we found out he was a really nasty piece of work.”
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Anders Anglesey
Alleged Brueckner victim claims police were dismissive of claims
Irish woman Hazel Behan, 41, claimed police were dismissive of her account that she was raped at knifepoint by Christian Brueckner.
Hazel said she reported the assault in Praia da Luz 21 years ago but that they were dismissive of her claim.
She said they continued to follow her for the next few weeks to analyse her behaviour and believes they were checking to see if she was sexually promiscuous or not.
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Monica Charsley
Police boss who led prior Maddie search reveals why her case gripped the public
A former homicide police chief has shared why this missing person case captured the public in particular.
Simon Foy, who led Operation Grange to find Madeleine in 2011, explained that the case had captured the world because it was “every parent’s nightmare”.
He told The Guardian: “When I was working in homicide investigations in the Met, occasionally these cases would come along which for some reason just connected around the public consciousness.
“It’s a whole load of things: it’s a young blond girl, it’s a middle-class family, it’s a holiday, it’s every parent’s nightmare. All that sort of stuff very unpredictably would combine together and you would go from virtually minimal media interest and coverage to significant and substantial media coverage, and that was all before the days of social media.”
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Monica Charsley
True crime tourists visit Praia da Luz
True crime tourists have flocked to Praia da Luz in a bid to retrace the family’s last steps.
British friends Joanne Sheppard, 60, and Jane Thorp, 61, visited the Ocean Club complex last week.
Joanne told The Guardian: “When we decided to go on holiday, I said I would like to see the place where [Madeleine] went missing and I’d like to sit and see the scope of the area so we could get a feel of various routes where maybe Gerry McCann and Kate walked.”
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Monica Charsley
Irish woman ‘in fear’ ahead of prime suspect’s release
An Irish woman who was allegedly raped at knifepoint by Christian Brueckner fears he will “hunt her down” when he is released from prison.
Brueckner, 48, who is the prime suspect in the Madeleine McCann case is set to be freed from a prison in Germany in September. He was jailed for the rape of a 72-year-old US woman in Praia da Luz, Portugal in 2005.
Now, Hazel Behan, 41, who bravely waived her right to anonymity, has opened up about her ordeal and said she is living in fear.
She told The Sun: “His sentence may be ending but mine never did. I have lived with fear every day for 21 years. Fear that I’ll see him. Fear that he’ll find out where I live and hunt me down. I also have fear that he’ll do to someone else what he did to me.
“I’ve called him out in a public forum and I have genuine concern he could confront me. I wouldn’t put anything past a person like him. If he is released, I will worry for every woman and child who, like me, believes the justice system is protecting them. A leopard doesn’t change his spots.”
Hazel Behan is concerned about his release (Image: Internet Unknown)
