Christian Brueckner, a suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, was an angry young man who was heard having rows with his girlfriend, a neighbour has recalled, as police scoured scrubland near the cottage where he lived.
The British neighbour said she regularly said hello to the German, who rented a run-down cottage in Atalaia, near Praia da Luz, around the time of the toddler’s disappearance in 2007. Only later did she learn the full extent of the allegations against him.
Police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann ramped up their hunt of scrubland and abandoned buildings with heavy machinery, including JCB and ground-penetrating radar.
The neighbour described Brueckner – who was in his late 20s at the time – as “quite angry” and she would hear him having rows with his girlfriend.
Investigators have focused on areas between Praia da Luz, the resort from where she disappeared 18 years ago, and a house where he lived.
They are reportedly planning to use radar equipment to scan below ground, in the search that is due to last until Friday.
Madeleine was three when she disappeared, sparking a Europe-wide police investigation.
German national Brueckner, who was formally identified as a suspect in 2022, has denied any involvement.
Suspect due to be freed from jail in three months’ time
Prime suspect in the case Christian Brueckner is in prison for raping a 72-year-old woman in Praia da Luz in 2005.
He is due to be released from jail in September if no further charges are made.
In October last year, Brueckner was cleared by a German court of unrelated sexual offences, alleged to have taken place in Portugal between 2000 and 2017.
Jane Dalton4 June 2025 21:34
Where police are searching
Jane Dalton4 June 2025 21:07
In pictures: Suspect’s former house
Jane Dalton4 June 2025 20:31
Watch: Madeleine McCann’s father Gerry describes moment he realised daughter was missing
Rachel Clun4 June 2025 20:00
What happened to Madeleine McCann? Timeline of the 18 year missing girl mystery as new search launched in Portugal
Rachel Clun4 June 2025 19:00
In pictures: Police bring out digger, radar in day two of renewed search
Rachel Clun4 June 2025 18:33
Christian Brueckner was a drifter and sex offender – why did police ignore him when Maddie McCann disappeared?
David James Smith looks back at 17 years of false starts in finding out what happened to Madeleine McCann and asks if the German national will ever face charges over her disappearance:
Rachel Clun4 June 2025 18:06
Why is there a new search in the Madeleine McCann case?
The search is being carried out at the request of the German federal police, as they look for evidence that could implicate prime suspect Christian Brueckner, who is in prison for raping a 72-year-old woman in Praia da Luz in 2005.
He is due to be released from jail in September if no further charges are brought.
Earlier this year, Brueckner also applied to be released early.
That application came after Brueckner was cleared in October last year by a German court of unrelated sexual offences, alleged to have taken place in Portugal between 2000 and 2017.
He has denied having any involvement in Madeleine McCann’s disappearance.
Rachel Clun4 June 2025 17:38
Watch: The Independent reports from abandoned site as police continue search for Madeleine McCann in Portugal
Rachel Clun4 June 2025 17:10
Day two of renewed search: Hunt for clues ramped up with heavy machinery as deadline looms
After using mostly hand tools as they searched scrubland near Praia da Luz on Tuesday in the hunt for clues about Madeleine McCann’s disappearance, police from Germany and Portugal ramped up efforts on Wednesday.
A JCB excavator was used to shift rubble near a derelict farm building, and after using strimmers and chainsaws to clear vegetation, other officers used ground penetrating radar to search for a trace of the missing toddler.
German investigators have until Friday to find concrete forensic evidence linking their main suspect Christian Brueckner to Madeleine’s disappearance.
Brueckner, who has denied any involvement, had lived in the area at the time of Madeleine’s disappearance.
He is due to be released from prison by September.
Rachel Clun4 June 2025 16:45
