The suspect in the McCann case has been released from prison: what is known about his release.

According to The Sun: After his release from prison, Christian Brueckner, the suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, immediately visited McDonald's, where he had a burger and chicken nuggets.

This visit was his first act as a free man and took place near the BabyOne store, which specializes in children's goods.

Christian Brueckner spotted with an electronic ankle monitor after his release from prisonBILD Fotoservice Brueckner smokes near a red containerBILD Fotoservice He also enjoyed a McDonald's burgerBILD Fotoservice

Following his release, British police intensified their investigation into Brueckner.

Metropolitan Police confirmed that they had requested access to all materials from the German investigation against 48-year-old Brueckner.

Detectives also requested the status of 'mutual legal assistance' to gain full access to documents related to their desire to question Brueckner, which had previously been denied.

A source close to the case noted: “It is clear that British police have heightened their interest in this case.”

“Operation Grange is an ongoing investigation, and there has always been an exchange of information with German colleagues.”

Brueckner was spotted eating while wearing an electronic ankle monitor after his release from JVA Sehnde, accompanied by six police vans.

Local residents expressed concerns: “It is horrifying that he has been released from prison and immediately found himself here.”

The McDonald's he visited is located in Lower Saxony and features children's playgrounds; however, it is unknown whether families with children were present during Brueckner's visit.

One of the employees expressed concern: “We know who this man is. This is not what we want here.”

Brueckner will wear his bracelet for the next five years and must contact a supervising specialist on a monthly basis.

He is also ordered to reside at a specific address and not leave without permission.

If he violates these conditions, he could face a fine or up to three years in prison.

Despite these strict conditions, Brueckner's lawyer emphasized that his release was 'successful'.

“Thanks to the police escort and road closures, the journey to his destination went without incident. No information regarding the current whereabouts of Christian B. has been disclosed.”

Previously, Brueckner was serving a sentence for the rape of a 72-year-old American woman in 2005 in Praia da Luz — the resort from which three-year-old Madeleine disappeared two years later.

He was supposed to remain in custody for another four months, but a former FBI agent covered the debt due to fears of human rights violations.

Brueckner's Dark Past

Christian Brueckner's criminal record spans decades.

He was convicted in 1994 for sexual assault against children, and in 2016 he was convicted again for child abuse. During Madeleine's disappearance, he was living in Portugal.

Later, he was convicted for the rape of an American tourist in Praia da Luz in 2005, which occurred just a few meters from where the McCann family was vacationing. However, last year he was acquitted in a sexual assault case.

This year, an investigation by The Sun uncovered new evidence of his obsession with abducting blonde women.

Prosecutors still insist that he remains the primary suspect.

Walters previously stated: “There are no others. He is the only suspect.”

For his part, the prosecutor in the Madeleine case, Hans-Christian Walters, noted: “During his imprisonment, he received no therapy. Therefore, we assess that the risk of reoffending is high. This worries us.”

At the time of the girl's disappearance in 2007, Brueckner was traveling in the south of Portugal in his camper van. “When the girl disappeared, his phone registered in that area.”

“Over the past five years of investigations, we have found nothing that could exonerate him. No alibi. On the contrary, we have accumulated incriminating evidence.”

“It is obvious to us that it is him. There are no other suspects, and never have been. But without adequate evidence, we cannot prevent the release of the primary suspect.”

How We Uncovered the Criminal Investigation

The Sun has actively covered the case of the primary suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.

In June 2020, German investigators named him Christian B. and expressed the opinion that Madeleine is dead.

A month later, we reported concerns about Brueckner's schoolhouse with a basement he was building.

In September, The Sun discovered key witness Helge B. in Corsica, who claimed that Brueckner told him: “She didn't scream.”

In October 2022, The Sun revealed that Brueckner was a suspect in the rape of ten girls near Praia da Luz a few days before Madeleine's disappearance.

Last year, The Sun published information that Brueckner boasted to a former cellmate that he abducted a child in Portugal.

This May, The Sun found new evidence against Brueckner that was discovered in police files during the investigation against him.

We previously reported that Brueckner bragged that the police would never be able to connect this case to him.

We also previously reported that the police investigating Brueckner covered up his early release due to fears for human rights.

“This is unusual, and it is unlikely that there would be anything good if he committed another serious crime. However, the presumption of innocence remains in force until proven otherwise. This is how the principle of law works.”

This week, The Sun reported concerns that Madeleine may have been abducted on behalf of an organized group in Belgium.

Investigators consider these charges serious, but there are currently no plans to investigate them as part of a potential indictment.

Investigations by The Sun this year, shown in a documentary on Channel 4, uncovered an 80GB hard drive and laptop with materials from Portugal that strengthen police convictions that Madeleine is indeed dead.

Cards and documents also point to Brueckner in a key search area for Madeleine — at the Arade dam in Portugal, as well as in a place where a possible confession was made in Spain.

Police assert that Brueckner's phone registered in areas where Madeleine disappeared on May 3, 2007, during a vacation with her family. Documents also revealed testimony about child abductions.

Metropolitan Police Chief Sir Mark Rowley stated yesterday: “He remains a suspect for us.”

“We are assessing where we stand, as well as examining the investigations of the German and Portuguese sides and calculating what to do next.”

Dan Charity Dan Charity Dan Charity Dan Charity Dan Charity EPA AFP

CHRONOLOGY OF THE MADELEINE CASE

Here is the chronology of the case that captivated the world.

May 3, 2007

Madeleine McCann disappeared from her family's apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, leading to a massive police investigation and becoming one of the most famous disappearance cases.

January 15, 2016

A neighbor reports a possible 'grave' at Brueckner's abandoned factory in East Germany.

Police find horrific images on USB drives and launch a large-scale investigation.

February 16, 2016

Christian Brueckner is convicted of abusing a five-year-old girl in a park after images were discovered on his laptop.

He received 15 months in prison, but at that time was already wanted.

May 3, 2017

At this time, Helge B. calls an information hotline after watching a program dedicated to the tenth anniversary of Madeleine McCann's disappearance.

He reports a possible confession from Christian Brueckner.

September 27, 2018

Fugitive Christian Brueckner is arrested in Italy over unpaid drug trafficking charges.

The following year he is extradited to Germany.

December 16, 2019

Christian Brueckner is sentenced in Germany for the rape of an American woman in Praia da Luz in 2005 after his DNA was matched with hair found on her bed.

He received a seven-year sentence.

June 4, 2020

German prosecutors announce that they have a suspect arrested in the case of Madeleine McCann's abduction, for the first time claiming that Madeleine is dead.

German media subsequently name him Christian B.

June 23, 2023

In his first interview, witness Helge B. claims to the German newspaper Bild that Christian Brueckner almost confessed to abducting Madeleine, stating: “she didn't scream” during a conversation about this case at a music festival in Spain.

February 16, 2024

Brueckner faces trial for accusations in other rape and sexual assault cases in Braunschweig, Germany.

Prosecutors hope for a conviction to keep him behind bars permanently and for potential charges in the Madeleine case.

October 8, 2024

Brueckner is acquitted of all charges; however, prosecutors have appealed the decision, which is still pending.

June 1, 2025

Police ordered to conduct a new search for evidence in Praia da Luz on the Algarve in Portugal.

This search lasted only three days.

September 17, 2025

Christian Brueckner is released from prison after serving time for rape and allowed to go free.

AFP

The situation surrounding Christian Brueckner remains under control. British and German investigators continue their inquiries, hoping to obtain new evidence that could lead to solving the case of Madeleine McCann's disappearance. Currently, the public's reaction to his return to freedom is not positive, with concerns about the potential threat he may pose.

This case leaves many questions unanswered, and the search for truth surrounding Madeleine's disappearance continues, raising concerns and interest both in the UK and Germany.