British police recently traveled to Portugal to interrogate acquaintances of Christian Brueckner, the main suspect in the Madeleine McCann case. Elke and Bernhard, a couple who housed Brueckner before Madeleine’s disappearance in Praia da Luz in 2007, were extensively questioned in Faro. Elke, a German national, firmly believes that Brueckner harmed Madeleine and expressed willingness to assist in any legal proceedings.
Brueckner, a convicted sex offender, was relocated in Germany after serving a prison term for assaulting an elderly woman in the same area where Madeleine vanished. Elke, having known Brueckner for years, speculates that he may have encountered Madeleine accidentally and committed a dreadful act in a moment of panic. She regrets ever befriending him and learning about his criminal past.
Metropolitan Police Chief, Sir Mark Rowley, hinted at the possibility of extraditing Brueckner to the UK if substantial evidence emerges. Operation Grange, the Met’s investigation into Madeleine’s disappearance, is intensifying following inconclusive results from German authorities. Met Police declined to comment on ongoing investigations but reportedly collaborated with Portuguese authorities to question the Piros in Faro.
The Piros first met Brueckner in 1995 and maintained contact until 2018, despite previous interrogations by German and Portuguese investigators. Bernhard described Brueckner as a “classic sociopath” and expressed regret over hosting him at their residence near Praia da Luz. Elke mentioned Brueckner’s dual nature – alternating between a kind persona and a troubled, alcohol-fueled individual with an obsession for sex.