Christian Brückner, the prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, is under investigation after he allegedly assaulted a police officer. The 49-year-old convicted sex offender, who denies any involvement in McCann's disappearance, appears to have landed himself in trouble again.
According to German news outlet Der Spiegel, the public prosecutor's office in the German city of Kiel have launched a further investigation into Brückner. The probe was sparked after an alleged 'scuffle' between the German and police on June 6.
Alleged incident outside supermarket
According to the outlet, Brückner allegedly used a mobile phone to take pictures of several police officers outside a supermarket. Upon noticing they were being photographed, the German cops reportedly asked Brückner to hand over the device, which he allegedly refused to do.
According to a police spokesperson, a "physical assault" appears to have taken place during the confrontation. They said: "During the course of processing the incident, there was a physical assault or resistance against law enforcement officers."
One officer is believed to have sustained an injury to the knee during the incident, although it is not clear the severity of the injury or the precise cause.
Legal proceedings and previous convictions
Prosecutors are also believed to be investigating whether photographs he took of the officers breached German laws governing the publication of people's images. Brückner's lawyer, Philipp Marquort, reportedly confirmed that an incident had taken but described the cops' reaction as excessive, saying that "the photo was taken from a distance of more than 40 meters and was perfectly unproblematic", adding, "this is a case of persecution of an innocent person."
Brückner is also facing a separate sentence for the rape of a 72-year-old American woman less than a mile from where Madeleine went missing. Although he was convicted in December 2019, he appealed against the seven-year sentence and so it can't be imposed until he has exhausted his appeal avenues.
At the time of Madeleine's disappearance, Brückner was living about a 10-minute drive from Praia da Luz. He denies any connection to the case. In 2011, he was sentenced to 21 months in jail for his part in a drugs trafficking ring supplying cannabis to wealthy clients.
