When three-year-old Madeleine McCann disappeared from her bed during a holiday with her parents in Praia da Luz, Portugal, on May 3, 2007, the world went into a rage.
On Thursday, almost 15 years later, Portuguese police identified Christian-born Christian Bruckner as “arguido”, meaning “named suspect” or “official suspect”.
Bruckner is not charged in the case, and his lawyers deny any involvement of their client in McCann’s disappearance.
He is currently serving a sentence in Germany on drug charges. Bruckner also received a seven-year sentence for raping a 72-year-old woman in 2005 in Praia da Luz, where McCann disappeared.
Read more: Chronology of events: the disappearance of Madeleine McCann
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In 2020, German police revealed that they were investigating Bruckner in connection with McCann’s disappearance.
A statement issued by Portuguese police on Thursday did not officially state Bruckner’s name, but instead said the suspect had previously been identified by German authorities. The statement said authorities had “strong indications” of Bruckner’s involvement in the crime.
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It is unclear whether Bruckner will be extradited to Portugal for formal questioning.
Time is of the essence in this case now, as Portugal’s 15-year limitation period declares that a person of interest cannot be baptized at this point. May 3, 2022 will mark the 15th anniversary of McCann’s disappearance.
1:52 Madeleine McCann, considered dead by the German authorities Madeleine McCann, considered dead by the German authorities – June 4, 2020.
McCann, now 18, was never found.
The girl disappeared from the apartment where her family was staying in Portugal, just a few days before her fourth birthday. McCann’s parents dined with friends at a nearby tapas bar, leaving the girl and her two siblings to sleep in the bedroom.
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According to the Guardian, Bruckner lived in the Algarve in Portugal between 1995 and 2007.
© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
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