German national Christian Brueckner, the main suspect in the case of the missing child Madeleine McCann, has declined to cooperate with British authorities upon his release from prison. The Metropolitan Police revealed that they had sent a formal request to Brueckner, 49, asking for his cooperation, but he refused to engage with them.
Despite his non-cooperation, Brueckner remains under suspicion in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann in 2007 at the Portuguese resort of Praia da Luz. Currently serving a seven-year sentence in Germany for the rape of an elderly woman in Praia da Luz in 2005, Brueckner could be released imminently. He has consistently denied any involvement in the McCann case.
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Cranwell, leading the Met’s investigation, stated their commitment to pursuing all possible leads in Brueckner’s absence. Collaboration with German and Portuguese authorities has been ongoing to unravel the events surrounding Madeleine’s disappearance.
Despite the setback of Brueckner’s refusal to be interviewed, the investigation continues, with multiple searches conducted by authorities from different countries, including the latest search in Lagos. Brueckner’s connections to Praia da Luz and his previous legal matters in the region have added complexity to the case.
Operation Grange, the Met’s investigation into Madeleine McCann’s disappearance, has received over £13.2 million in funding since 2011, with additional funding secured recently from the Government. The investigative efforts and pursuit of justice for Madeleine McCann remain ongoing.