Christian Brueckner, the prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, could face up to five years in prison after being accused of assaulting a British man. The 48-year-old convicted rapist was reportedly arrested alongside the British man on suspicion of 'mutual assault' following a fight in the city of Kiel, northern Germany.
However, a source close to Brueckner claimed that he was 'attacked by a British person' and called the police himself. The source told The Mirror: 'The guy appeared in front of him together with two other people and a big dog. He yelled at Brueckner and hit him in the face twice and that's it and then the police came and arrested him. Brueckner called the police. He was injured.' Under German law, 'mutual assault' applies when the suspect is both a perpetrator and a victim.
The alleged fight comes in the same week that the Metropolitan Police reportedly pushed for Brueckner to stand trial in Britain for the abduction and murder of Madeleine McCann. The toddler vanished aged three while on holiday with her parents in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in May 2007. German authorities named Brueckner as the prime suspect six years ago, but no charges have been brought, and he maintains his innocence.
Scotland Yard is said to be confident it can present a strong case to the Crown Prosecution Service, but Brueckner's extradition could be a major obstacle. Article 16 of the German constitution prohibits the extradition of German citizens to foreign countries, except to EU member states or international courts like The Hague. Before Brexit, Brueckner could have been extradited under the European Arrest Warrant, but now extraditions from Germany to the UK are 'generally precluded by German constitutional law', according to a German government spokesperson.
Brueckner's legal team dismissed the possibility of a trial in the UK. A source close to the team said: 'We have been here many times before, and nothing has ever happened; we are sure this attempt will go the same way. If the UK authorities have any evidence, why don't they share it with the Germans so they can press charges? German law forbids extradition of German citizens; they can only be tried in Germany. The chances of this happening are non-existent.' Another source said Brueckner is 'completely unfazed' and confident the case won't progress.
Brueckner, born Christian Fischer, was adopted by Brigitte and Fritz Brueckner after his troubled mother gave him up. He was convicted of his first crime, burglary, at age 15 while living with his physically abusive adoptive parents. In 1994, after his adoptive father was seriously injured, Brueckner was placed in a children's home, where he committed his first sex offence at age 17. He later sexually abused a nine-year-old and was sentenced to two years in prison.
After serving his sentence, he moved to Portugal, where he worked in hotels and garages before being extradited back to Germany. He returned to Portugal and in 2004 raped Irish tour guide Hazel Behan; in 2005, he raped 72-year-old American Diana Menkes. In 2007, the year Madeleine vanished, Brueckner left Portugal and did not return for nine years, during which his offending 'spiralled'. Mobile data placed his phone in Praia da Luz shortly before Madeleine's disappearance. He was also said to have partially confessed in 2008, telling a friend 'she did not scream'.
Brueckner was released from prison in September 2025 after serving seven years for the rape of a pensioner. Scotland Yard had requested to interview him before his release, but he refused. The Met's investigation, Operation Grange, began in 2011. Meanwhile, Madeleine's parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, marked the 19th anniversary of her disappearance with a prayer vigil. In a social media post, they wrote: 'Nineteen years. The search goes on to find our Madeleine, to achieve some justice, to make the world that bit safer.'
A Met spokesperson said: 'The Met’s investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann has been active since 2011. A dedicated team continues to examine the events of the evening of 3 May 2007 in Praia da Luz, while supporting and updating Madeleine’s family. As part of ongoing enquiries, we remain in close working discussion with policing colleagues in Germany and Portugal. We will continue to pursue any viable lines of enquiry.'
