The Metropolitan Police is reportedly pushing for the extradition of Christian Brueckner, the prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, to stand trial in the UK. Detectives believe they can gather sufficient evidence for the Crown Prosecution Service to charge the 48-year-old German national with abduction and murder.
However, a request to bring Brueckner to the UK could be blocked under Article 26 of the German constitution, which prohibits the extradition of German citizens to non-EU countries. Before Brexit, extradition would have been straightforward, but now the UK must rely on a reciprocal agreement with Germany that came into force in 2021.
As an alternative, the Met could share evidence with Portuguese authorities. Portugal, as an EU member, could extradite Brueckner from Germany. Brueckner was released from prison last year after serving a sentence for rape. German authorities have named him as the prime suspect in Madeleine's disappearance but have not charged him.
Speaking about the legal barriers, Nick Vamos, former head of extradition at the CPS, said: “Germany is one of 10 EU countries that chose to impose a ‘nationality bar’ and refuses to extradite its own citizens. This is a constitutional bar under German law so cannot be lifted or waived however serious the offence.” He added that Brueckner could still be extradited to the UK if he left Germany, or to Portugal if authorities there chose to prosecute him.
Madeleine McCann disappeared from her parents' holiday apartment in Praia da Luz 19 years ago. This weekend marked the anniversary, with her parents Kate and Gerry stating: “19 years. The search goes on… to find our Madeleine, to achieve some justice.” The Met has been investigating the case through Operation Grange since 2011, costing over £13 million.
Brueckner, who lived near the McCanns' holiday apartment at the time, has denied any involvement. He was found to be in possession of paedophilic material and diaries describing fantasies about abducting children when his property was searched in 2016.
