Featured Image Credit: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images
Topics: Madeleine McCann, Crime, World News
Callum Jones
Topics: Madeleine McCann, Crime, World News
A prime suspect in the Madeline McCann case has been released and the person who released him has said it wasn't intentional.
It was 18 years ago when three-year-old Madeleine from Britain went missing after last being seen at a holiday apartment complex in Praia da Luz, Portugal.
The toddler's disappearance prompted a Europe-wide police investigation, which has still not been solved to this day.
Christian Brueckner, a primary suspect in the case, was released from prison this week after serving seven years behind bars for the rape of a 72-year-old woman in Praia da Luz in 2005, which he denies.
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He has also been charged with two previous convictions for sexual abuse of a child, though they are unrelated to McCann.
The suspect was released from prison early after someone paid an outstanding fine related to other offenses, according to a report by Der Spiegel.
The former German federal police employee apparently did not realize what the money was for and had attempted to retrieve it.
Brueckner was named as an official suspect in the case of the missing Brit in 2022, with the 49-year-old living around one mile away from the resort where the McCanns were staying in 2007. Police said that during his time in the area between 1995 and 2007 he would break into apartments, burgle hotels, and sold drugs.
While police believe Brueckner had something to do with McCann's disappearance, he has not faced any charges.
Despite Brueckner now being free, Jon Clarke, editor of the Spanish newspaper Olive Press, has said he is still facing 'two imminent verdicts' in Germany.
As per ITV News, Clarke said: "The police will keep a very close eye on him when he is out to prevent him reoffending again.
"In fact I’ve been told there are many activities being carried out by various law enforcement authorities at the moment to lower the risk as far as possible.
“He is going to need to give a proper address and will have a probation officer checking him very closely."
The Times reported Brueckner denied a request by police in the UK to be interviewed in relation to the disappearance of McCann.
Metropolitan police Detective Chief Inspector Mark Cranwell, said, as per the outlet: "We are aware of the pending release from prison of a 49-year-old German man who has been the primary suspect in the German federal investigation into Madeleine’s disappearance.
"We can confirm that this individual remains a suspect in the Metropolitan Police’s own investigation."