In a dramatic development in one of Britain's most haunting missing person cases, a British grandmother has been formally interviewed by Metropolitan Police detectives investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.
The woman, whose identity remains protected, was questioned at her home in Germany by officers from Scotland Yard's specially formed investigation team. This extraordinary intervention comes after she provided investigators with what has been described as a potentially significant tip concerning Christian Brueckner, the convicted sex offender currently regarded as the prime suspect in the case.
A Tip That Crossed Borders
The pensioner's information was substantial enough to prompt British authorities to dispatch officers directly to Germany. During the interview, which lasted several hours, detectives meticulously recorded her statement regarding Brueckner's activities and associations around the time of Madeleine's disappearance in May 2007 from a Portuguese holiday apartment.
This move demonstrates the ongoing and intense international effort between UK and German investigators, who continue to pursue every possible lead sixteen years after the three-year-old vanished from Praia da Luz.
The Shadow of Christian Brueckner
At the centre of this renewed investigative push is Christian Brueckner, a 46-year-old German national currently serving a prison sentence for the rape of a 72-year-old American woman in the same Portuguese region where Madeleine went missing. German prosecutors officially named him as their chief suspect in the McCann case in 2020, though he has yet to be charged and denies any involvement.
The nature of the information provided by the British woman remains confidential, with authorities tight-lipped about the specific details to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation. However, sources indicate it relates to Brueckner's behaviour and contacts during the critical period.
A Mother's Unending Hope
The development arrives as Kate and Gerry McCann, Madeleine's parents, continue their lifelong campaign for answers. Earlier this year, they marked what would have been their daughter's 20th birthday with a heartfelt public statement, vowing to "never give up hope" of finding out what happened to her.
The Metropolitan Police's Operation Grange, the investigation into Madeleine's disappearance, continues its work, having cost an estimated £13 million to date. A spokesperson for the force confirmed that "all lines of enquiry remain open" and that they continue to work closely with international partners in Portugal and Germany.
