Christian Brueckner, the prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, has been arrested on suspicion of "mutual assault" following an altercation in Kiel, northern Germany. The 49-year-old convicted paedophile could face up to five years in prison if found guilty, according to reports.
Brueckner and an unnamed man were both taken into custody after the fight. A source close to Brueckner claimed he was attacked by a British man accompanied by two others and a large dog, who shouted at him and struck him twice in the face. Brueckner called the police himself and was injured, the source said.
The arrest comes a day after it was reported that Scotland Yard is pushing to charge Brueckner before the 20th anniversary of Madeleine's disappearance next year, with a possible trial in London. However, German prosecutor Hans Wolters dismissed the prospect of extradition, stating that no arrest warrant exists in the Madeleine case and that German law prevents the extradition of its citizens to non-EU countries.
Brueckner was released from prison in September after serving a seven-year sentence for raping a US pensioner in the same Algarve resort where Madeleine went missing. Since his release, he has been under 24-hour police surveillance and has moved residences at least four times, reportedly playing a "game of cat and mouse" with authorities.
Scotland Yard detectives are said to have been working on a case against Brueckner for six months and have formally requested evidence from German police. They believe they can build a strong enough case for the Crown Prosecution Service to authorise charges before the 20th anniversary. A source said the effort is being led by a deputy assistant commissioner.
Brueckner, who denies any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance, declined to comment on the reports, saying only: "No comment – I have good lawyers." He was acquitted last year in Braunschweig on separate charges of rape and child abuse.
