Metropolitan Police bosses are pushing to bring the sex offender suspected of the abduction and murder of Madeleine McCann to the UK for trial, it has been reported.
German rapist and paedophile Christian Brueckner has been named the prime suspect in her disappearance, but has not faced any charges over the case either in the UK or abroad.
According to reports in The Telegraph, senior officers are pushing to see Brueckner charged before the 20th anniversary of Madeleine’s disappearance next year.
Despite Madeleine’s case officially being a missing persons investigation, a small team of officers are building a file of evidence for the CPS in relation to her suspected abduction and murder, the newspaper reports. However, the force could face difficulties bringing the suspect to the UK, because the German constitution prevents the extradition of its citizens to non-EU countries.
Article 16 of the German constitution means that Britain could face a diplomatic and legal battle if the Met tries to bring Brueckner to the UK.
Brueckner was living around a mile away from where the McCanns were staying at a Praia da Luz hotel when three-year-old Madeleine went missing in 2007. Brueckner has a string of sexual offence convictions, including for child sex abuse and the rape of a 72-year-old American woman, and was released from prison in 2025.
His name first cropped up in connection with Madeleine’s disappearance in 2013, but he has so far not been made the subject of any charges in connection with the case.
Nick Vamos, the former head of extradition at the CPS, told The Telegraph: “Germany participates in the streamlined EU-wide extradition arrangements with the UK that were agreed after Brexit. However, Germany is one of 10 EU countries that chose to impose a ‘nationality bar’ and refuses to extradite its own citizens. This is a constitutional bar under German law, so cannot be lifted or waived however serious the offence or strong the evidence.
“Brueckner could still be extradited to the UK if he left Germany, or to Portugal if the authorities there chose to prosecute him. It would be open to the Met Police to share evidence with the Portuguese for this purpose.”
It comes as Madeleine’s family marked the 19th anniversary of her disappearance over the weekend.
In a post on the Official Find Madeleine Campaign Facebook page, they wrote: “19 years. The search goes on … to find our Madeleine, to achieve some justice, to make the world that bit safer.
“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 effort. Thank you. For Madeleine, who we love and miss every day, we will 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 give up.”
A force spokesperson said: “The Met’s investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann has been active since 2011. A dedicated team continues to examine the events of the evening of 3 May 2007 in Praia da Luz, while supporting and updating Madeleine’s family.
“As part of ongoing enquiries, we remain in close working discussion with policing colleagues in Germany and Portugal. We will continue to pursue any viable lines of inquiry.”
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