28 September 2025 , 09:59
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Convicted sex offender Christian Brueckner fled a flat in the northern German town of Neumünster after the address was circulated in a local WhatsApp group. The property had served as a hideout for the prime suspect in the Madeleine McCann case before his sudden departure.
This is the dingy flat where Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner stayed after being released from jail.
The convicted sex offender fled the bolthole in the sleepy German town of Neumunster yesterday after the address was leaked on a local WhatsApp group. Angry locals shouted “scum” and “shame on you” as police led him from the ground floor flat.
Officers carried two carrier bags holding smirking Brueckner’s meagre possessions as he strolled with hands in pockets to a police car. Brueckner was released from prison on September 17 and spent just over a week in the sparsely furnished apartment.
Brueckner fled the flat after his location became known on a local WhatsApp group (Image: Phil Harris)
Pictures show all he had was a single bed, a chair and a desk with a lamp. Other rooms in the flat were completely empty. The 48-year-old is German police’s prime suspect in three-year-old Madeleine’s disappearance in 2007.
Brueckner is a key suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann (Image: Phil Harris)
She vanished while on holiday with her family in Praia da Luz in Portugal’s Algarve. Brueckner, who lived nearby, denies any involvement. Earlier this month, the German national was released from prison near Hanover after serving seven years for raping a US pensioner in 2005 - also in Praia da Luz.
Brueckner was escorted from the flat yesterday afternoon (Image: Phil Harris)
He was later pictured tucking into a McDonald’s burger and seen on CCTV buying a mobile phone and appearing to laugh as he showed off his ankle tag. Shop staff said the former odd job man told them he would “not last long”.
Brueckner has been moved and not re-arrested (Image: Phil Harris)
Manager Farouk Salah-Brahmin, 32, said: “Brueckner told me he had some information. I don’t know if it’s the McCann case but he said he had evidence that could bring the scandal of the century to an end... He said something about USB sticks.”
Brueckner refused to answer questions about the Madeleine case (Image: Phil Harris)
Although he is German police’s main suspect in the Madeleine case, they have not issued an arrest warrant and they cannot keep him behind bars. Investigators say they have some evidence that Madeleine is dead but no forensic proof tying Brueckner to her.
Photos show Brueckner lived in a miserable flat (Image: Phil Harris)
Police have confirmed his phone was near Ocean Club at the time the McCann family, from Leicestershire, were staying there. Brueckner refused to answer questions on the Madeleine case while in prison or talk to detectives.
Brueckner was escorted away from the flat (Image: Phil Harris)
Following his release from Sehnde prison he declared himself homeless and was put in emergency accommodation in the German suburb. He must wear an ankle tag for five years and his passport was taken away.
Madeleine McCann vanished during a family holiday in 2007 (Image: PA)
After he was escorted from the flat yesterday afternoon police said he had been moved - not arrested - but declined to comment further. It is claimed Brueckner has moaned about safety concerns after being repeatedly recognised. His legal team have mentioned moving him to the large south German city of Munich.
Brueckner is preparing a new legal fight to leave Germany (Image: Phil Harris)
Brueckner also wants to mount a new legal fight to be allowed to leave Germany. Lawyer Philipp Marquort has said: “If I were him I would leave and look for a state which doesn’t extradite to Europe or Great Britain, maybe like Suriname.”
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