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AT least five bodies have been discovered in the waters of a popular tourist island in Spain.
Cops are probing the gruesome discovery of people found floating at sea in Majorca wi…
WALKING on board the ship with her boyfriend and friends, Ashley Barnett couldn’t wait to celebrate her 25th birthday on a three-day cruise through the crystal-clear waters of the Pa…
THE British woman who went missing for four days after hiring a boat on the paradise island of Formentera has been rescued alive.
A major search operation was launched on Wednesday after the 39-year-old failed to return the 15-foot motor b…
THE woman who has paid for the prime Madeleine McCann suspect’s early release has been revealed as a cop who had been investigating the paedophile.
The mystery donor settled a £1,300 outstanding court fine which means Christian Brueckner, 48, will walk free in less than three months, on September 17.
The woman who has paid for Christian Brueckner’s early release from jail has been revealed as a cop[/caption]
Reports have now identified her as a former officer with the German FBI – known as the BKA – who claims to have been involved in wire-tapping his jail cell.
She confirmed to respected Hamburg-based publication Der Spiegel she paid the funds directly to the justice system – allowing the fiend out early.
Watch The Sun’s exclusive documentary on the Maddie case here
Convicted rapist Brueckner had only been able to pay off £210 of the total fine and faced being kept behind bars until January.
That scenario would have granted cops four precious extra months to hunt down forensic evidence and finally charge him over Maddie’s disappearance.
As it is, the ex-cop’s intervention undermined the same force she previously worked for – all as they tirelessly dug for new clues in Portugal two weeks ago.
The woman – who has not been publicly named – claims she worked in the field of “Operative Technology Audio”.
She says she was involved in bugging Brueckner’s prison cell – allegations that emerged in court last year as the disturbed German was cleared of fresh rape charges.
The female fine-payer did confirm: “I never had personal contact with Christian B.”
And when confronted over the fine payment, the woman bizarrely told Spiegel it has been a “misunderstanding” and she had tried in vain to reverse the payment.
She reportedly believed the fine was due to Brueckner insulting a police officer, something she said “wasn’t justified”.
When she learned that the penalties were actually to do with a number of infractions, including bodily harm, “it was already too late,” she said.
Spiegel reports it has been able to verify she transferred £1,300 to an account of the Braunschweig public prosecutor’s office at the Comdirect bank.
It cleared a 2016 Helmstedt District Court fine for drunkenness in traffic and forgery of documents and a 2017 Braunschweig court levy for assault.
Brueckner will now walk free when his sentence for raping an American woman, 72, in Praia da Luz, in 2005, ends.
He has been named publicly as the prime suspect over the May 3, 2007 disappearance of Maddie, of Rothley, Leics., since 2020 but has never been charged.
He has used letters to deny the claims but has refused to answer police questions or provide an alibi.
His phone was in Praia da Luz on the night Madeleine vanished and made a 30-minute call from the area.
Young Maddie vanished on May 3, 2007 in Portugal[/caption]
Brueckner appeared in court earlier this year over verbal assaults on prison guards[/caption]
His Jaguar was re-registered into a name the day after the disappearance.
A Sun investigation this year revealed bombshell new evidence – including Brueckner’s obsession with snatching and abusing small, young, blonde girls.
We also placed him at key police locations of interest, including a lake where cops dug for evidence,
And we showed evidence he was at the scene of an al-but-confession when he allegedly said Maddie “did not scream,” in 2008.
Our probe – aired on Channel 4 – revealed the existence of a hard-drive and laptop containing crucial picture evidence on the case.
Police maintain they have physical evidence Maddie is dead – but no forensic links.
German police have recently stressed the value UK authorities could provide by getting involved in the case again before Brueckner’s release.
He has refused to rule out leaving Germany and insisted he will go to ground on his release.
If he travelled to a non-extradition country all hopes for McCann justice could disappear with him.
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.
September 17, 2025
Date on which Christian Brueckner will be released from custody without action being taken.
Prosecutors require an arrest warrant for a retrial over claims from last year – or over the McCann case.
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.
Police tirelessly dug for new clues in Portugal two weeks ago[/caption]
A FORMER reality TV star from Beauty and the Geek has been arrested and charged with murder after her partner’s body was found in their house.
Emergency services were called to the home in Port Lincoln, South Australia, to reports of…
PHEOBE Bishop’s heartbroken family have confirmed the remains discovered in bushland are hers after the 17-year-old disappeared last month.
The Australian teen’s own h…
AN URGENT hunt is underway for Brit Janet Fison who went missing on Costa Blanca 17 days ago.
Cops have deployed drones, dogs and helicopters to aid with the search, which has been going on since she disappeared on 30 May.
Jam PressJane…
A BRIT tourist has disappeared in Brazil with his passport and belongings left untouched at his AirBnb.
Denis Kopanev, 33, who works as a financial analyst in London, was last spotted on CCTV leaving the rental on Monday.
Jam PressDenis…
THE gun found during the fresh search for Madeleine McCann has been revealed as a 6.35 calibre pistol, well-placed sources claimed today.
The gun was reportedly discovered during …
MADELEINE McCann cops were investigating two objects uncovered during their search described by local media as “guns”.
Portuguese daily newspaper Correio da Manha reported two firearms had been found in the area of scrubland above Praia da Luz, searched last week.
Two firearms had been found in the area of scrubland above Praia da Luz[/caption]
One of the handguns was dismissed as “irrelevant” to the McCann investigation and linked to another probe.
The other weapon, found in a well, was said to be more modern. Both were described as rusty and historic with cops expecting neither to hold Maddie links.
Watch The Sun’s exclusive documentary on the Maddie case here
However, prime suspect Christian Brueckner, 48, is said to have carried a gun during his time in the Algarve.
A Sun investigation revealed he previously owned two antique pistols.
A Portuguese investigator, speaking on condition of anonymity, said of the gun reports: “The objects found are very old and very rusty.
“I’d describe them almost as archeological artefacts.”
Another well-placed insider added: “One has already been ruled out as having any connection to the Maddie inquiry.
“A separate investigation is underway to try to establish how it ended up where it did and what exactly it is.”
Reports claimed all the objects and samples taken from the search were set to be tested in Portuguese capital Lisbon.
Sources in Germany said anything of value would be retained by German investigation leads.
Luis Neves, the National Director of the Policia Judiciaria police force insisted last Friday the searches had “not been in vain” despite the apparent lack of results.
This comes just hours after it was reported cops sent samples from their search in Portugal for testing.
The three-day search had widely been labeled a flop after police appeared to leave the site next to Praia da Luz empty-handed last week.
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.
September 17, 2025
Date on which Christian Brueckner will be released from custody without action being taken.
Prosecutors require an arrest warrant for a retrial over claims from last year – or over the McCann case.
But eagle-eyed police did find tiny fragments, which they are speculating could have links to Maddie after prime suspect Brueckner wild camped at the site.
The samples were sent to Germany for testing amid hopes they could finally reveal the forensic link cops are missing on the case.
Cops are understood to have found clothes and animal bones during the extensive search through an area known as Brueckner’s “rat run”.
Without evidence pinning it to the convicted German rapist, prosecutors risk not being able to get the arrest warrant they need to keep Brueckner behind bars.
The claims were made in the Berlin Morning Post.
A source said: “Several objects have apparently been discovered, which are now being examined in more detail by the police in the laboratory.
“As Portuguese media report, clothing debris and bones were found, among other things.
“The investigators have not officially commented on whether the finds could have anything to do with Madeleine’s disappearance but that is clearly their hope.”
The search took place around an area of scrubland which is located close to where the British toddler was staying with her parents back in 2007.
The little girl was aged just three when she vanished and has never been found since despite extensive searches.
German and Portuguese police used JCB-type machines and ground-penetrating radar but found “nothing of consequence”.
It was reported that animal bones and adult clothing were the only things unearthed – but no traces could be linked to Maddie.
Despite extensive searches no traces could be linked back the girl[/caption]
Eagle-eyed police found tiny fragments, which they are speculating could have links to Maddie[/caption]
The search is being conducted at the request of the German federal police[/caption]
This quickly dashed hopes of pinning Brueckner with fresh DNA evidence until the latest developments today.
It comes as The Sun uncovered new Maddie evidence in a bombshell documentary.
The world exclusive doc lifts the lid on gripping new information and reveals why Brueckner is the prime suspect.
Our compelling investigation unveils the horrors found at his abandoned factory lair – and his obsession with small children.
Madeleine McCann: Inside the Secret Evidence is now available to watch online for free on our YouTube page.
The dossier of overwhelming circumstantial evidence includes exclusive images of kids’ swimming costumes, a toddler bike and toys found at his property.
We also reveal how cops found a mask, guns and child kidnap stories where Brueckner describes using kidnap chemical ether to take a mum and tot outside a preschool.
Our documentary on the police files represents the biggest leap forwards in understanding of the case since German police revealed Brueckner as a suspect in 2020.
It contains an interview with Irish holiday rep Hazel Behan, 41, who Brueckner was cleared of raping in 2005 at trial in Germany last year.
Hear from experts at The Sun and in Germany about the ongoing race against time to stop dangerous Brueckner being released in as little as three months.
Christian Brueckner refuses to answer police questions or provide an alibi, but has never been formally charged over the disappearance of murder of Madeleine McCann.
He has insisted his innocence in letters while his lawyers continue to maintain he had nothing to do with the taking or killing of Maddie.
One weapon, found in a well, was said to be more modern[/caption]
Police have been searching various sites in and around the resort of Pria du Luz[/caption]
Cops were investigating two objects uncovered during their search[/caption]