Christian Brueckner refuses interview request from UK police amid release from prison

In Germany, Christian Brueckner, a convicted sex offender, was released from prison after serving a seven-year sentence for the rape of a 72-year-old woman. On September 17, 2025, he left a prison near Hanover following the completion of his unrelated sentence. German authorities have identified Brueckner as the prime suspect in the 2007 disappearance of British toddler Madeleine McCann, who vanished from her family's apartment in the Algarve region during a holiday. Although he remains a suspect, he has never been charged in connection with McCann's case and continues to deny any involvement. Despite being under investigation, Brueckner recently refused a formal interview request from the London Metropolitan Police, which has frustrated investigators in Britain, Portugal, and Germany who have worked on the case for years. This refusal is considered a significant setback in the search for answers regarding McCann's mysterious disappearance. The British police hoped to question Brueckner to verify inconsistencies in his alibis and confront him with witness statements collected over the years. His decision to decline the interview has raised concerns about the future of the investigation and the potential for Brueckner to evade further scrutiny. As he prepares to reintegrate into society, authorities are deliberating on the extent of supervisory oversight they can enforce over him. There are discussions regarding the imposition of parole-like conditions, which could involve wearing an electronic ankle tag, reporting regular updates to authorities, and restrictions on movement, particularly in areas fundamental to past offenses. This continued monitoring stems from the belief among many connected to the case that Brueckner remains a potential threat to both adults and children. Many observers believe that the circumstantial evidence tying Brueckner to McCann’s disappearance should enforce more rigorous cooperation with U.K. investigators. Brueckner's past involvement in the Algarve during the time of McCann's disappearance complicates the situation further, leading police to want more information on his activities from that period. The case remains one of the most widely publicized missing persons investigations, and as it continues to unfold, the hope for resolution remains strained against the backdrop of Brueckner’s refusal to speak and the challenges faced by investigators in solidifying their case.