MADELEINE McCann suspect Christian Brueckner wolfed down a McDonald’s burger following his release from prison yesterday.
The sex offender’s first act as a free man was to eat a cheeseburger and chicken nuggets — yards from a Mothercare-style baby store.
Christian Brueckner was seen with an ankle tag after being released from prisonBILD Fotoservice
He was seen taking a puff on a cigaretteBILD Fotoservice
And he also enjoyed a burger from McDonald’sBILD Fotoservice
HandoutBrueckner remains the only suspect for investigators in the disappearance of Brit toddler Maddie[/caption]
But following his release, British cops have stepped up their probe into the rapist.
Met Police officers have requested permission to access all files and witnesses on the German investigation into the 48-year-old paedophile.
Detectives have applied for a special status called “joint legal assistance”, which will give them full access to evidence apparently linked to their earlier bid to interview Brueckner, which was refused.
A source close to the case in Germany said: “It’s clear the British police have increased their interest in this case.
“Operation Grange, the Met’s investigation into Madeleine, has always remained active and there has always been information-sharing with the Germans
“But after leaving the case with German investigators Met detectives now seem to want to take a real look at everything.”
Brueckner was snapped necking his grub while wearing an electronic ankle tag after leaving JVA Sehnde prison in a £60,000 black Audi A6 escorted by six police vans.
He stood opposite a branch of BabyOne, which specialises in clothes, toys and equipment for mothers and toddlers.
A local said: “It’s terrifying he has been released from prison and come straight here.
“There are many McDonald’s not next to baby stores like this — take him there.”
The McDonald’s, in Germany’s Lower Saxony region, had children’s play equipment outside, although it was not clear if families were using it at the time of Brueckner’s visit.
But a member of staff said: “We know who this man is. It’s not what we want here.”
Brueckner will wear his tag for the next five years and contact a probation officer monthly.
He has also been ordered to stay at a single address and cannot move out without permission.
If he breaches the conditions he faces a fine or up to three years in prison.
Despite the strict conditions, and one incident where police had to hold back a photographer, Brueckner’s lawyer said the release had been a “success”.
He said: “Thanks to the police escort and the closure of the roads used behind the convoy, the journey to the destination was completed without further incident. No information regarding Christian B’s current location or his accommodation has been provided.”
Brueckner was in jail for raping a 72-year-old American woman in 2005 in Praia da Luz — the resort from which three-year-old Madeleine disappeared two years later.
He should have stayed locked up for another four months — but a former German FBI officer who had previously investigated him settled outstanding court fines over fears his human rights were being infringed.
Brueckner’s dark past
CHRISTIAN Brueckner’s criminal record spans decades.
He was jailed in 1994 for sexually abusing children, convicted again of child sex abuse in 2016, and was living in Portugal at the time of Madeleine’s disappearance.
He was later convicted of raping the American tourist in Praia da Luz in 2005 – just yards from the McCann holiday complex – but was cleared last year in a separate rape and sexual abuse case.
A Sun investigation this year — aired on Channel 4 — revealed bombshell new evidence, including his obsession with snatching blonde girls.
But prosecutors are adamant he remains their focus.
Wolters has previously said: “There is no one else. He is the only suspect.”
However Madeleine prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters said: “In prison, he has not undergone any therapy. We therefore estimate that the risk of re-offending is high. This worries us. At the time of Madeleine’s disappearance in 2007, Bruckner was driving in the south of Portugal on board his motorhome.
“When the girl vanishes, his cell phone rings in the area.
“In five years of investigation, we have not found anything that can vindicate him. No alibi. On the contrary, we have accumulated incriminating evidence.
“To us, it is obvious that it is him. There are no other suspects, and there never have been. But without sufficient evidence, we cannot prevent the main suspect from being released.
How we revealed probe on evil perv
THE Sun has led the way in covering the prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.
In June 2020, German investigators named him as Christian B, and revealed their belief she was dead.
A month later we revealed fears over Brueckner’s allotment house with a cellar he was building.
That September The Sun tracked key witness Helge B down in Corsica, who claimed the sex offender told him: “She didn’t scream.”
In October 2022, The Sun revealed how Brueckner had been charged with a sex assault on a girl of ten near Praia da Luz days before Madeleine vanished.
In September 2024 The Sun printed claims Brueckner told an ex-cell mate he had taken a child in Portugal and begged him to burn his lair.
This May, The Sun revealed evidence against Brueckner unearthed from police files after an investigation into him — including child abuse messages.
The Sun revealed in June Brueckner bragged that cops would never pin the case on him.
Last week we revealed a cop investigating Brueckner paid for his early release because she feared for his human rights.
“It is unsettling, and it would be a nightmare if he were to commit another serious crime. However, the presumption of innocence stands until proven otherwise. This is how the rule of law operates.”
The Sun told this week of fears Madeleine had been snatched to order, potentially by a paedophile ring in Belgium.
Investigators are said to be taking the claims seriously but have no plans to pursue them as part of any potential prosecution.
A Sun investigation this year, shown in a Channel 4 documentary, revealed the existence of an 80GB hard drive and laptop containing images from Portugal, closely linked to cops’ belief that Madeleine is in fact dead.
Pictures and documents also place Brueckner at the key Madeleine search location of the Arades Dam, in Portugal, and at the site of an alleged all-but confession in Spain.
Police say Brueckner’s phone tracks to the area where Madeleine disappeared on May 3, 2007 while on holiday with her family.
Sickening child abduction stories were also uncovered.
Met Police chief Sir Mark Rowley said yesterday: “He remains a suspect for us.
“We’re taking stock on where we are and the German investigation and the Portuguese investigation and working out what we make of those.”
Dan CharityBrueckner stopped at the McDonald’s less than 100ft from a baby shop[/caption]
Dan CharityBruecker made the stop off after being freed from jail[/caption]
Dan CharityThe convicted paedophile covered his face with a blanket as his car sped past reporters[/caption]
Dan CharityA police convoy took Bruckner to the McDonald’s as he left jail[/caption]
Dan Charity Brueckner was freed from prison in Germany this morning[/caption]
EPACops had to wrestle away journalists as Brueckner drove away[/caption]
AFPPolice officers entering the high-security prison in Sehnde near Hanover where Brueckner had been serving his sentence[/caption]
TIMELINE OF THE MADDY CASE
HERE’S a timeline of the case which has gripped the world.
May 3, 2007
Madeleine McCann disappears from her family’s holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, sparking a massive police search and becoming one of the most famous missing persons cases in history.
January 15, 2016
Neighbour reports a possible ‘grave’ at Brueckner’s abandoned factory in East Germany.
Cops find disturbing images on USB sticks and launch a full-scale search.
February 16, 2016
Christian Brueckner is convicted for abusing a girl of five in a park after images found on his laptop.
He was sentenced to 15-months behind bars but was already on the run by then.
May 3, 2017
Around this time, Helge B calls an information hotline after watching a ten-year anniversary special on the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.
He reports an alleged confession by Christian Brueckner.
September 27, 2018
On-the-run Christian Brueckner is arrested over outstanding drugs claims in Italy.
He is extradited to Germany the following year.
December 16, 2019
Christian Brueckner was convicted, in Germany, for the 2005 rape of an American woman in Praia da Luz, Portugal, after his DNA was matched to a hair found on her bed.
He was sentenced to seven years behind bars.
June 4, 2020
German prosecutors reveal to the world they have a suspect in custody under investigation for the abduction of Madeleine McCann.
For the first time they claim Madeleine is dead.
German media later name him as Christian B (Christian Brueckner).
June 23, 2023
In his first interview, witness Helge B alleges to German newspaper Bild that Christian Brueckner all-but-confessed the Madeleine abduction to him, by allegedly saying “she didn’t scream” as they talked about the case, at a music festival, in Spain.
February 16, 2024
Brueckner goes on trial accused of none-McCann allegations of rape and sex assault, in Braunschweig, Germany.
Prosecutors hope for a conviction to keep him behind bars permanently and lead to McCann charges.
October 8, 2024
Brueckner was acquitted of all claims.
Prosecutors launch an appeal, however. Decision pending.
June 1, 2025
Police order a renewed search for clues in Praia Da Luz on the Algarve in Portugal.
It lasts for just three days.
September 17, 2025
Christian Brueckner released from jail after serving sentence for rape and allowed to walk free.
AFPAn aerial shot of the jail where the convicted paedophile had been caged[/caption]
