The prime suspect in the high-profile case of Madeleine McCann's disappearance has been released from prison in Germany, where he has been serving a sentence for an unrelated offence. Christian Brückner was driven out in a black Audi by his lawyer with a police escort shortly after 09:00 local time (07:00 GMT). Brückner wasn't visible in the car but police confirmed he had left Sehnde prison.
He had been convicted of raping a 72-year-old American woman in Portugal in 2005, and will be fitted with an ankle tag after his release from the prison near the northern city of Hanover.
The German national, 48, has never been charged with any crime in relation to the McCann case. He denies any involvement.
Local police spokesman Lars Dehnert told the BBC: We said before that we wanted this to happen as smoothly as possible, adding that Brückner would be escorted for a short distance.
In the UK, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley stated that Brückner remains a suspect for us and that the investigation remains open. Brückner was a drifter and has several previous convictions, including for sexually abusing children.
Despite suspicions against him, the German authorities have not found sufficient evidence to charge Brückner in connection with McCann’s disappearance, which remains one of the highest-profile unsolved missing person cases in the world.
He had been convicted of raping a 72-year-old American woman in Portugal in 2005, and will be fitted with an ankle tag after his release from the prison near the northern city of Hanover.
The German national, 48, has never been charged with any crime in relation to the McCann case. He denies any involvement.
Local police spokesman Lars Dehnert told the BBC: We said before that we wanted this to happen as smoothly as possible, adding that Brückner would be escorted for a short distance.
In the UK, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley stated that Brückner remains a suspect for us and that the investigation remains open. Brückner was a drifter and has several previous convictions, including for sexually abusing children.
Despite suspicions against him, the German authorities have not found sufficient evidence to charge Brückner in connection with McCann’s disappearance, which remains one of the highest-profile unsolved missing person cases in the world.
