Madeleine McCann suspects Christian Brueckner should stand trial in Britain ‘for her kidnap and murder’, says Met Police

Metropolitan Police detectives are reportedly pushing for Christian Brueckner to stand trial in Britain for the kidnap and murder of Madeleine McCann.

Brueckner, 48, was named by German police as the main suspect in the toddler’s disappearance while he was serving a sentence for the rape of a pensioner.

However, no charges were ever filed and he was released last year.

Now one of Scotland Yard’s most senior officers is leading an effort to indict Brueckner by the end of the year.

US police want him to stand trial at the Old Bailey and are confident the case is strong enough for the Crown Prosecution Service to bring charges.

But Germany’s constitution does not allow the extradition of its citizens to countries outside the European Union – meaning the suspect’s transfer to Britain could spark a diplomatic row.

Brueckner lived just a mile away from the Praia da Luz hotel where Madeleine was staying with her family at the time of her disappearance in 2007.

If Berlin rejects an extradition request, British officers are believed to move to ensure he is charged in Germany or Portugal.

A Scotland Yard insider told the Telegraph: ‘Next year will mark 20 years since Madeleine McCann went missing. If the evidence is strong enough to extradite the prime suspect and try him here, then that is what we would try to do.

“Obviously there are numerous hurdles, but our priority right now is to gather the strongest evidence we can against that prime suspect.”

Before the completion of Brexit, Brueckner could have been extradited to Britain without complications.

The convicted rapist could face trial abroad before British and German police hand over their evidence to investigators in Portugal, an EU state where his extradition could be more easily arranged.

The news comes just hours after Kate and Gerry McCann, Maddy’s parents, took part in a prayer vigil in Leicestershire on the 19th anniversary of her disappearance.

It was the first time the couple and their twins – Sean and Amelie – were pictured in public as well-wishers gathered in their hometown.

Kate and Gerry vowed in a statement posted online: “The search continues to find her, to achieve justice, to make the world a little safer.”

Madeleine had spent the night of her disappearance alone with her younger siblings while Gerry, 57, and Kate, 58, were dining at a tapas restaurant.

The investigation in Britain since her disappearance has so far cost taxpayers around £13.5 million – with the government last year approving a new request from Scotland Yard for a financial boost.

Sir Mark Rowley, Britain’s top police officer, confirmed at the time that British police were looking for a way to extradite Brueckner.

He said: ‘One of the reasons we are involved is that in many situations murder is extraterritorial and a murder of a British national could potentially be charged in Britain in certain circumstances.

“There are a lot of maybes, so at the moment we are taking stock with the Germans and Portuguese.”

After serving seven years behind bars in Sehnde prison, near the city of Hannover, Brueckner was released at the end of September 2025.

He was named as a “top suspect” in Madeleine’s disappearance in 2020 but was never charged due to lack of evidence, prosecutors said.

Hans Christian Wolters, who led the German investigation into Brueckner, has repeatedly emphasized that there is concrete evidence against the sex offender.

He said he was “100 percent” certain Brueckner killed Madeleine when he spoke to reporters in 2021, adding: “We are confident we have the man who took her and killed her.” It is now possible that we may charge costs. We now have that proof.

“But it’s not just about the charges against him – we want to charge him with the best possible amount of evidence.”

And this week, Mr Wolters said in a statement: ‘The investigation into the Madeleine McCann case continues. Christian B remains the only suspect. I cannot say when the investigation will end or what the outcome will be.”

Brueckner has always denied any involvement in the case.

He was born Christian Fischer in Würzburg, Bavaria, and adopted the name he now uses when he and his two brothers were adopted by Brigitte and Fritz Brueckner, after their troubled mother gave them up.

At age 15, while living with his physically abusive adoptive parents, he was convicted of his first crime: a burglary.

In 1994, two years after his conviction, Brueckner’s adoptive parents placed him in a children’s home after Fritz was seriously injured in an accident.

There he was found guilty of his first sex crime, abusing a child at home at the age of 17.

Before he was caught, he then sexually abused a nine-year-old child.

He was sentenced to two years in prison for ‘sexual abuse of a child, attempted sexual abuse of a child and performing sexual acts in the presence of a child’.

But soon afterwards he traveled to Portugal, where he found work in hotels and garages before eventually being tracked down by police and extradited to Germany.

After serving his sentence he returned to Portugal and in 2004 he allegedly raped Irish tour guide Hazel Behan in her apartment in Praia da Rocha on the Algarve coast – near where Madeleine disappeared three years later.

In 2005, he raped 72-year-old American woman Diana Menkes, who lived in the Algarve and has since died.

In 2007, the same year Madeleine went missing, Brueckner left Portugal and did not return for nine years. Instead, he settled in Germany, where his abusive practices “spiraled.”

Mobile data showed the 48-year-old’s phone had been in Praia da Luz shortly before Madeleine disappeared.

According to police statements, Brueckner also allegedly partially confessed to the crime in 2008 by telling a friend that “she didn’t scream.”

Scotland Yard had made a request to interview the rapist prior to his release in September, but he refused.

The Met’s investigation is part of Operation Grange, which began in 2011 following a Home Office request for a review of the case. At that time, Madeleine had been missing for four years.

Mr and Mrs McCann have never given up hope that their daughter can be found, but despite one of the biggest manhunts in British history, she remains missing.

The parents did not address the 50-strong crowd outside their home in Rothley on Sunday, but looked pained as prayers were said for Madeleine.

After the short 20-minute service, Kate, wearing dark casual trousers with a puffer jacket, was seen smiling as she hugged and chatted with locals.

The family of four later walked away from the event to their nearby home.

In a new social media post, Kate and Gerry wrote: ‘Nineteen years. The search continues to find our Madeleine, to achieve justice, to make the world a safer place.’

On the official Find Madeleine Facebook page, they added: ‘We remain very grateful for all our support – from friends and family, people we know and those we don’t – and from the police and authorities for their continued determination and commitment. Thank you

‘For Madeleine, whom we love and miss every day, we will never give up. Kate, Gerry and family.’

A Met spokesperson said: ‘The Met’s investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann has been active since 2011. A dedicated team continues to investigate the events of the evening of 3 May 2007 in Praia da Luz, while supporting and keeping Madeleine’s family informed.

‘As part of the ongoing investigations, we remain in close consultation with police colleagues in Germany and Portugal. We will continue to pursue all possible lines of inquiry.”