PANIC has broken out in a small German town after it emerged Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner has moved there after his release on Wednesday.
Locals say they are afraid after Christian Brueckner moved into their town in GermanyBILD FotoserviceMadeleine McCann went missing in 2007 from a holiday resort in Praia da Luz, PortugalAFP
A local council had confirmed the move while a detail of agents from the German FBI are said to be tailing the sex offender 24/7 after he demanded celebrity-style protection.
The Sun knows the name of the town but has chosen not to publish it.
One objector posted: “How can you even let this beast out? Our justice has been ringing the bell for too long.”
A fuming local added: “It doesn’t matter that the police can track all his steps.
“They don’t have a live camera, do they? He can hurt the children for life within two minutes. This man belongs in prison.
“We don’t just have to be careful, we have to be afraid for him. He is capable of anything.”
He wrote: “I do not want to be recognised on the street at any time.”
He also said he was scared to leave his prison cell, writing he expected “to be physically attacked or killed by fellow inmates”.
Christian Brueckner is the prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, but is currently a free manDan Charity
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.”
Timeline of Maddie’s disappearance
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.
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.
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.
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HARD as it is to accept, if the prime McCann suspect disappears after his release from prison he’ll take all hope of solving the Maddie case with him. And I know who is to blame.
Prime suspect Christian Brueckner, 49, was given a mea…
Spanish cops have now released an image of James in their desperate attempt to locate him.
He is pictured ordering food at the kebab joint, wearing a blue T-shirt with his Jack Russell on his lap.
In one photograph, three diners appear to be enjoying a meal behind him as he stands at the checkout.
It comes as official records show James reported his passport as lost or stolen at the Irish Embassy on August 19 – a day after he was last seen or heard from.
At the time, his half-sister Nikita said: “We know he’d had a drink but as a family we don’t believe he would recklessly set sail in the dark at night,” she said.
“It doesn’t make sense for it to be ‘oh he fell overboard’ because he was drunk, there are a lot of holes in the story.”
Paddy’s Anchor previously shared appeals by James’ worried family on social media saying: “Many of you have been asking, so we want to share this post from Jemsie’s family.
“His sister is still searching for him after he was last seen here in Las Palmas.
“His boat has since been found off the coast of Gran Canaria, but there has been no contact from him since.”
A call was made between August 24 and 25 in relation to James’ boat as police found it a day later 50 miles offshore.
At first they said James’ Jack Russell, known as Thumbelina, wasn’t on board but later said she was found with the boat.
Timeline of James Nunan’s disappearance
August 18:
18:16: James films himself on Facebook Live walking at Playa del Confital beach
22:00: He is last seen leaving Paddy’s Anchor bar in Las Palmas
22:39: Bank records show he purchased food from Rico Doner Kebab
August 19: His passport is reported “lost or stolen” to an Irish consulate in Gran Canaria
August 22: James’ mum reports him missing to Essex Police
Between August 24/25: A call was made in relation to James’ boat
August 25: Police find his boat 50 miles off the south coast of Gran Canaria
August 27: Police say they have also found his dog Thumbelina
There remains no information on where James could be.
A witness came forward to claim he spoke to James as he said the Brit was drunk but not acting in any unusual manner.
He had reportedly told him about his sailing adventures and that he planned to head to Lanzarote.
Some pub staff also claimed they were told not to speak to anyone about his mysterious disappearance.
A man reportedly answered phone calls at the pub saying: “It’s an open investigation and we’ve been told not to speak to anyone and I’ve just got to go with that I’m afraid.”
James was sailing around the world when he vanishedJames’ Jack Russell, known as Thumbelina, was found
Asked if it was local police or Mr Nunan’s family who had asked him not to speak, he said: “I can’t talk about it, sorry.”
After his boat was found with the dog on board, it was towed back to Argineguin in the south of Gran Canaria.
A spokesperson for the Civil Guard said: “We are looking into this case. Several lines of investigation are being pursued.”
Jemsie had been about five-and-a-half months into his solo sailing trip when he vanished – and had been planning to travel to Brazil.
Nikita added that a distress signal was sent out in relation to his boat between August 24 and 25.
The dog found on board has since been taken to an animal shelter.
Jemsie’s father has travelled to the island searching for any signs of the missing 34-year-old.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has confirmed it is “supporting the family of a British man who has been reported missing in Spain“.
The National Police in Las Palmas and court officials on the island have been approached for comment.
He was headed for Brazil on his world tourPolice confirmed he last used his card to buy food at Rico Doner Kebab
CHRISTIAN Brueckner has been spotted gorging on a McDonald’s burger and smoking a cigarette in his first acts of freedom.
The convicted paedophile, 48, walked out of a German prison sporting an ankle tag on Wednesday as he remains the only suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.
Christian Brueckner was seen with an ankle tag after being released from prisonBILD FotoserviceHe was seen taking a puff on a cigaretteBILD FotoserviceAnd he also enjoyed a burger from McDonald’sBILD FotoserviceHandout
Brueckner remains the only suspect for investigators in the disappearance of Brit toddler Maddie[/caption]
Brueckner, who prosecutors still fear is a danger to society due to his twisted criminal past, was pictured stopping off for some food as he made his way to a safe house.
The rapist was seen tucking into a McDonald’s meal at Lower Saxony after he was given a police escort away from the Sehnde jail near Hanover.
Pictures show him gripping on to a burger in the car park with a coffee sat in front of him – and around 30ft from a kids park and Mothercare-style baby store.
He also ate Chicken McNuggets with sweet and sour sauce, according to witnesses.
A second snap shows Brueckner smoking a cigarette by himself.
He can be seen wearing a purple pinstripe shirt, beige trousers and black trainers.
Brueckner also put on a pair of sunglasses as he inhaled the cigarette.
On his right leg, a chunky ankle tag can be seen riding up his trousers.
In order to keep track of him, German courts made sure he was fitted with the device at all times.
The device will be geo-fenced to three-miles around his new permanent home.
This means cops will be alerted instantly if he steps outside the zone without permission.
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.”
Staff said they were unable to say if families were making use of the climbing equipment at the time but admitted: “We know who this man is, it’s not what we want here.”
It appeared the convoy had taken a route towards Oldenburg, in Germany, was Brueckner was previously imprisoned and where he is scheduled to have his next court date, for verbally abusing the governor, in October.
Brueckner will also be forced to surrender his passport and will be given a new government-issued ID card.
Despite the precautions, investigators still worry Brueckner could fleeGermanyas he doesn’t need a passport to movefreelywithin mainlandEurope.
His ankle tag will stop working the moment the sex offender skips past the German borders.
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.”
Brueckner remained in the McDonald’s car park for just 15 minutes before he was driven away in his lawyer’s black Audi A6.
The same car had taken him from prison to the fast foodcourt at around 9:15am local time.
A chilling image showed Brueckner sat in the rear seat with his hand up in the air.
He covered his face with a blanket as the car sped past reporters.
Brueckner has always denied any involvement in Madeleine’s disappearance.
Brueckner, a drifter with a long history of sex offences against women and children, remains the only suspect in Madeleine’s disappearance.
Despite spending years investigating Brueckner, German lead prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters has admitted his team still doesn’t have enough evidence to bring charges over her disappearance.
Dan Charity
Brueckner stopped at the McDonald’s less than 100ft from a baby shop[/caption]
Dan Charity
Bruecker made the stop off after being freed from jail[/caption]
Dan Charity
The convicted paedophile covered his face with a blanket as his car sped past reporters[/caption]
Dan Charity
A 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]
He previously told reporters: “He is not just our number one suspect, he’s our only suspect.
“We have evidence against him but in our view it’s not strong enough to make a guilty verdict likely.”
Wolters reaffirmed his hopes to pin the case on Brueckner today as he said: “The release of Christian B has no direct impact on the McCann case.”
Brueckner has always denied any involvement in Madeleine’s disappearance.
Met Police chief Sir Mark Rowley yesterday said the force was “taking stock” after Brueckner’s release.
He added of the peripatetic paedo: “He remains a suspect for us.
“We’re taking stock on where we are and the German [police’s] investigation and the Portuguese investigation and working out what we make of those.”
Extraditing Brueckner to face questioning in the UK would require cops here to have sufficient evidence to charge him over Maddie’s disappearance, The Sun understands.
EPA
Cops had to wrestle away journalists as Brueckner drove away[/caption]
AFP
Police officers entering the high-security prison in Sehnde near Hanover where Brueckner had been serving his sentence[/caption]
The Brit tot was only three years old when she vanished from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in May 2007.
The parents were dining with friends in a nearby tapas restaurant on the night their daughter vanished, returning at 10pm to find her gone while her twin siblings slept.
The McCann case quickly became one of the biggest missing persons investigations in history and has seen multiple suspects let go and dead ends found.
This week, a new lead has emerged after a notorious network of paedophiles linked to a serial child-killer were feared to have ordered Maddie’s kidnapping.
A former top Belgian official, who led the inquiry into the murderer and child-molester Marc Dutroux, says a gang of traffickers could be connected to her disappearance.
Three days before the girl was snatched in 2007, Belgian cops had issued an alert to European police forces over intelligence that a paedophile gang had ordered a small child to be snatched.
It comes as a Sun investigation — aired on Channel 4 earlier this year — revealed the existence of a hard drive and laptop containing images from Portugal, closely linked to the belief held by cops that Madeleine is in fact dead.
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.
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.
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.
