Major breakthrough in Madeleine McCann case as new evidence uncovered
Investigators involved in the probe into Madeleine McCann's disappearance 18 years ago could strengthen their case against the prime suspect, Christian Brueckner, after new evidence emerged, a forensic expert has claimed.
The Mirror reports how a disturbing new documentary into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann in Portugal in 2007 has uncovered new evidence at Christian Brueckner's home, including photographs of young children in swimwear, toys and horrific stories of kids being kidnapped.
Among the evidence was an 80gb hard drive that contained images, as well as a laptop key. The hard drive also placed Brueckner at the centre of the search location in the Arades Dam area, with the documentary reporting that the German suspect wanted to "capture something small and use it for days".
Professor of Forensic Science at the University of Kent, Robert Green, believes discovering "musk, guns, and hard drive" may warrant a more "thorough investigation" into Brueckner's past.
He told The Mirror: "The discovery of items such as a musk, guns, and particularly the hard drive, indicates a potential link to further criminal activity, which may warrant a more thorough investigation of the suspect's past.
"The rationale behind the renewed search could stem from the ongoing pursuit of justice in the Madeleine McCann case and the hope that any additional evidence could lead to a breakthrough. Investigators continually assess existing evidence and pursue lines of inquiry they believe could be fruitful, especially in cases that have remained unresolved for many years."
A letter from Brueckner, who denies any involvement in the disappearance of the British girl, which was recently discovered is believed to have been targeted at police in Germany and their attempts to connect the convicted criminal to Madeleine's disappearance in Portugal.
German publication Bild quotes the note as reading: "Are there any traces of her in my vehicle? Any other traces of her in my possession? Photos? Is there a body? No, no, no."
Brueckner was also placed at the location of a search for Maddie by a document in which he allegedly said "she did not scream" as he discussed the British toddler with an associate. He also shared a harrowing kidnapping story, including: "A very small girl enters the room. She's definitely not older than five."
Last week, the latest search for clues into the disappearance of Madeleine was launched by both German and Portuguese authorities. The search, conducted between Praia da Luz - where Madeleine disappeared on May 3, 2007 - and the area where Brueckner resided lasted a number of days.
It's understood that Brueckner spent time in Praia de Luz between 2000 and 2017 and his home was quite close to the Ocean Club, the accommodation in which the McCann family were staying when she suddenly disappeared.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Toddler, 3, horrifically mauled by cockapoo had her ‘arm ripped open' as dad ‘held her skin together'
A THREE-year-old girl has been mauled by a cockapoo in a vicious attack that saw the child's arm ripped open by the designer dog. The young girl, Bunnie, was 4 Bunnie had to undergo plastic surgery to repair her arm Credit: SWNS 4 The attack left the three-year-old with brutal wounds Credit: SWNS Bunnie's father, Rowen Skinley, witnessed the Rowen was walking his three children to school when the cockapoo lunged at his daughter. She suffered Bunnie underwent plastic surgery after being rushed to hospital with surgeons attempting to stitch her torn skin back together. Read more in News Kent Police have confirmed they are Dad Rowan recalled having to "hold the skin on [Bunnie's] arm together" while she waited for treatment. According to reports Bunnie was attacked by a small sandy-coloured Rowan said: "It happened parallel to the school on the main road. I was just walking home after the school run. Most read in The Sun "The path is quite narrow, and a woman was walking her dog on the actual road itself. "Then, out of nowhere, the Girl, 10, mauled by next-door neighbour's Chow Chow before dog RETURNED to owners leaving family 'petrified' "The owner managed to pull the dog off, but when she did that, it "I was so shocked. All I had to stop the bleeding was my hands. I had to basically hold her skin together." Witnesses to the vicious attack rushed over to help rowan and Bunnie but the owner of the dog quickly left the scene. 4 Bunnie was rushed to hospital after the attack Credit: SWNS 4 She has now had several x-rays and plastic surgery Credit: SWNS Rowen said: "People who saw what happened came over and said that my daughter hadn't even put her hand out to the "The woman just disappeared. She didn't leave any details or anything." He added: "She's doing well now. She's just a bit shaken and keeps talking about how "She also has a lung condition and really bad asthma so she had to be marked down as a high-risk category for sedation. "It's really upsetting that the woman didn't stop because it makes you fear for the Bunnie was rushed to Medway Maritime Hospital and then transferred to St Thomas' in Westminster on the morning of June 18. She had several X-rays to ensure the puncture hadn't hit her bone, before undergoing Bunnie will have to go back to the hospital within a week for a check-up, and to assess whether she will need further work done. Which dog breeds are banned in the UK? THERE are specific regulations in place that prohibit certain dog breeds from being owned or bred in the UK. So what are the Which dog breeds are illegal in the UK? People tend to think of large, vicious dogs when they imagine being bitten by one. But the truth is that many types of dogs are known to bite humans, whether provoked or not. However, it's important to remember that just because a breed tends to bite humans, that doesn't mean that they all do. British law determines five breeds of dog are illegal to own, breed, sell or give away. These are an XL Bully, Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Brasileiro.
The Irish Sun
5 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Mystery female donor who paid £1,300 fine to free Madeleine McCann suspect Brueckner is former COP who investigated him
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 Advertisement 6 The woman who has paid for Christian Brueckner's early release from jail has been revealed as a cop Credit: Dan Charity 6 Brueckner's release will have a major implication on the investigations into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann Credit: AFP 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 Convicted rapist Brueckner had only been able to pay off £210 of the total fine and faced being kept behind bars until January. Advertisement read more in Christian B 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 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. Advertisement Most read in The Sun 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". Madeleine McCann: the secret evidence on prime suspect Christian B | Sun Documentary 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. 6 Young Maddie vanished on May 3, 2007 in Portugal Credit: Alamy 6 Brueckner appeared in court earlier this year over verbal assaults on prison guards Credit: Rob Pattinson Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement If he travelled to a non-extradition country all hopes for McCann justice could disappear with him. Timeline of Maddie's disappearance May 3, 2007 Madeleine McCann disappears from her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, sparking a January 15, 2016 Neighbour reports a possible 'grave' at Brueckner's abandoned factory in East Germany. Cops find disturbing 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, 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 German media later name him as 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 Prosecutors launch an appeal, however. Decision pending. September 17, 2025 Date on which 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. 6 Brueckner is serving time in jail after being convicted of rape Credit: Rex Features 6 Police tirelessly dug for new clues in Portugal two weeks ago Credit: Dan Charity
Sunday World
7 hours ago
- Sunday World
Kneecap fans charged €30 for balaclavas and ‘free Mo Chara' tshirts at Dublin gig
Fans who did buy them at official merchandising stalls may feel they got a bit of a bargain as the same items are fetching over €110 online. KNEECAP fans are not only lapping up their music but also their imaginative merchandising. Woolen Irish tricolour balaclavas, as famously sported by band member DJ Provai, were on sale at last night's gig in Dublin's Fairview Park for €30. Many fans took delight wearing them, with security signs on nearby entrances earlier anticipating the craze by signalling: 'Balaclavas may be worn but please show your face if asked by security staff'. Kneecap News in 90 Seconds - June 20th Fans who did buy them at official merchandising stalls may feel they got a bit of a bargain as the same items are fetching over €110 online. Kneecap t-shirts, primarily in black, were also generally priced at €30. The most popular one being snapped up had 'Free Mo Chara' on its front, in obvious reference to band member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh's current court case in London. Tshirts on sale at the gig This was the group's first show since Liam's appearance at a magistrates court in London on Wednesday on alleged incitement of terrorism charges (for displaying a Hezbollah flag at a gig in the British capital several months ago), with his case being put back until August while he's released on unconditional bail. Other t-shirts read 'Kneecap: England get out of Ireland' and 'Take these yokes and we'll go for a dance'. A Kneecap hoodie was on sale for €70 and shorts for €40. There was also a separate stall selling pro-Palestinian items. Much of the marketing ideas are originated by the band's enterprising Dubliner manager Daniel Lambert. Daniel is also the C.E.O. of Bohemians FC, where he has had a phenomenal success of bringing sales of merchandising of replica jerseys from just over €100,000 a year to an estimated €2 million. A sign on display at the gig The jerseys, many of which are bought online from abroad, have already have themes such as Bob Marley (who played in Dalymount Park in 1980), 'Refugees Welcome' and 'Fontaines DC'. Environmentalist Greta Thunberg was spotted wearing a Bohs' Fontaines DC on her recent attempted boat trip to Gaza. 'I'm a free man', announced Liam as he took to the stage last night, to whoops of support from the sold-out crowd of 8500 who packed out a giant marquee. Free Mo Chara tshirts were on sale Liam also later wryly stressed that 'I'm not the first lad from west Belfast' that ended up in a British court. The band also highlighted that while their fans got to enjoy an exhilarating show they should also contemplate about Palestinians being slaughtered in Gaza and the West Bank. Balaclavas on sale online The group too paid a touching tribute to their late lightning designer Conor Biddle, offering sympathy to his family and husband Sean. Kneecap will play Glastonbury on Saturday of next weekend, where they're expected to have one of the biggest crowds of the famous festival given not just the curiosity, they're attracting for being perhaps the most high-profile anti-establishment act at the moment but also because their catchy and thought-provoking music is attracting a growing army of fans.
