Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has confirmed that British authorities will explore the possibility of extraditing Christian Brückner, the prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, to face trial in the UK. Brückner, 49, was released from a German prison on Wednesday after serving a seven-year sentence for the rape of an elderly woman in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in 2005.
Rowley stated that the investigation into Madeleine's disappearance remains active, with Brückner still considered a suspect by British police. He noted that German prosecutors had reached a point where they could not bring charges under German law due to insufficient evidence, but the UK is now assessing its options.
Under UK law, murder can be tried extraterritorially, meaning a British subject could potentially be charged in the UK even if the crime occurred abroad. Rowley emphasised that there are many questions to be answered, and the Met is liaising with German and Portuguese authorities.
Brückner, who denies any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance, has refused a request from the Met to be interviewed. The former head of extradition at the Crown Prosecution Service, Nick Vamos, said extradition is feasible but requires enough evidence to charge first.
Rowley made the comments during a briefing marking his third anniversary as commissioner, where he also highlighted the Met's efforts to root out corrupt officers, with 1,400 staff dismissed in recent years.
