One of the two guns found during the recent Madeleine McCann searches in Portugal is a semi-automatic that has not yet been ruled out as a potentially game-changing piece of evidence.
The 6.35 calibre weapon was discovered near prime suspect Christian Brueckner’s former cottage in the Algarve near where the British girl vanished in 2007. The other gun police discovered has been ruled out as a “rusting relic”.
It comes after Portuguese police revealed what would happen to the items discovered, which also included clothing and animal bones. Initial reports said the items were being sent back to Germany for forensic analysis – though this has been denied by Portuguese investigating sources.
Follow our liveblog for updates on the Madeleine McCann case below…
Bradley Jolly
How much has Britain spent on operation to find Madeleine McCann?
The UK has spent several million pounds in its efforts to find out any information about Madeleine McCann.
Funding given to Operation Grange has reached more than £13.2million since 2011.
As of 2022, there were five Metropolitan police officers who were working on the case.
Anders Anglesey
Sickening items found at Brueckner property
Several sickening items were found at the Brueckner property, an explosive documentary revealed.
According to The Sun’s documentary, police searching the property discovered more than 70 children’s swimsuits, a toddler’s bike, inflatable toy, and a cache of images on an 80GB hard drive, which were allegedly taken in Portugal.
They also found a laptop, masks and guns, alongside a handwritten story about using drugs to kidnap a woman and child from outside a preschool.
Anders Anglesey
Investigators detail found ‘archaeological artefacts’
Portuguese investigators described some of the finds made during the recent search in Praia da Luz.
One investigator, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said of the gun that was discovered: “The objects found are very old and very rusty. I’d describe them almost as archaeological artefacts.”
Another well-placed insider added: “One has already been ruled out as having any connection to the Maddie inquiry. A separate investigation is underway to try to establish how it ended up where it did and what exactly it is.”
Anders Anglesey
Brueckner’s depraved message to other paedophile
Prime Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner made a harrowing comment to another paedophile, according to claims.
A new Channel 4 documentary, produced with The Sun, found images of children in swimming costumes at his property.
In a harrowing admission, Brueckner allegedly said he wanted to “capture something small and use it for days.”
The paedophile added it would not matter if “evidence is destroyed afterwards” as he would “make a lot of films.”
Brueckner is the prime suspect in the Madeleine McCann case (
Image:
The Daily Mirror)
Zahra Khaliq
Latest update from German cops
German prosecutors said following their latest search: “The search operation conducted in Portugal last week has been completed as planned. No information can be provided at this time regarding the results of the investigation.
“Our sincere thanks go to all police officers involved in the search. The co-operation between the Portuguese police and the Federal Criminal Police Office was excellent and very constructive.
“We don’t want to say anymore at the moment.”
Zahra Khaliq
Gun found in search not ruled out as significant lead
Last week, firefighters drained a well and retrieved a gun during fresh Madeleine McCann searches on the Algarve.
The weapon has not been ruled out as a significant find by investigators.
It comes as German prosecutors described the co-operation with Portuguese police as “excellent and very constructive” – with both forces trying to build up a case against suspect Christian Brueckner ahead of his release from jail in September.
Tim Hanlon
German prosecutor says work with Portuguese counterparts was ‘very constructive’
Head prosecutor in Braunschweig, Hans Christian Wolters, said the co-operation between the Portuguese and German authorities during the latest Madeleine McCann search was “very constructive”.
The three-day search in connection with the disappearance of Madeleine McCann concluded as planned, German prosecutors have said.
They had requested the search as part of their continued attempts to source evidence to implicate prime suspect Christian Brueckner. He is in prison for raping a 72-year-old woman in Praia da Luz in 2005 and is due to be released from jail in September if no further charges are brought.
Brueckner reportedly sent a letter to police saying “decisive questions can never be answered”. And another letter shows the suspect telling Mr Wolters that “the investigation will be dropped”.
Gerard Couzens
One of the firearms has been ruled out as police say ‘relic’ couldn’t fire
Portuguese daily Correio da Manha reported yesterday the firearm was unlikely to be a “lethal weapon” although tests are understood to be ongoing.
It has not yet been ruled out as a potential game-changer in the ‘race against time’ to charge Brueckner over Madeleine’s disappearance before he finishes the seven-year prison sentence he is currently serving for the 2005 rape of an American OAP.
Another gun said to have been found during last week’s searches has been ruled out. It is believed to be more than 50 years old and has been described by Portuguese sources as a “rusting relic.”
Gerard Couzens
Gun found at bottom of well described as “more recent”
One of the objects described as a gun was found at the bottom of a well emptied by firefighters last week.
Portuguese daily Correio da Manha reported today it appeared to be “more recent” than the other firearm which is believed to be more than 50 years old and has been ruled out as a possible piece of evidence in the Madeleine McCann case.
The newspaper went on to add: “The more recent weapon is unlikely to be a lethal weapon” before confirming all the material unearthed last week was in a Lisbon police lab for analysis in Portugal and not Germany as previous reports had indicated.
Gerard Couzens
Gun retrieved in Madeleine McCann search effort identified as 6.35 firearm
The gun retrieved from a well drained by firefighters last week during fresh Madeleine McCann searches on the Algarve is a 6.35 calibre, well-placed sources said today.
Further details emerged hours after German prosecutors described the co-operation with Portuguese police as “excellent and very constructive” as authorities in both countries continue to try to build up a case against suspect Christian Brueckner ahead of his scheduled release from prison in September.
The type of gun discovered during the three-day search operation last week near Brueckner’s former ramshackle cottage home close to the Algarve resort where Madeleine vanished on May 3 2007, has not yet been revealed.
KEY EVENT
More details on gun found in well during last week’s searches
A gun retrieved from a well drained by firefighters last week during fresh Madeleine McCann searches is a 6.35 calibre, well-placed sources said today.
New details emerged hours after German prosecutors described the co-operation with Portuguese police as “excellent and very constructive” as authorities in both countries continue to try to build up a case against suspect Christian Brueckner ahead of his scheduled release from prison in September.
The type of gun discovered during the three-day search operation last week near Brueckner’s former ramshackle cottage home close to the Algarve resort where Madeleine vanished on May 3 2007, has not yet been revealed.
Typically 6.35 calibre guns are small, pocket-sized, semi-automatic pistols used for self-defence or fun target shooting, but can be airguns.
Portuguese daily Correio da Manha reported yesterday it was unlikely to be a “lethal weapon”, although tests are understood to be ongoing.
Paige Ingram
All evidence linking Christian Brueckner from hard drive to ‘confession’
Convicted rapist and paedophile Christian Brueckner is at the centre of a desperate race against time to find new evidence in the Madeleine McCann case. Here’s five reasons why police believe he could be their man:
His time in Portugal
His time in Germany – and ‘confession’
Unearthed hard drive and more ‘confessions’
His court appearances on other offences
‘Clothes and bones’ found in new search
Read the full story here.
Anders Anglesey
RECAP: Three key pieces of evidence unearthed in search for toddler
Detectives searching for clues to the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have unearthed several pieces of evidence which have been sent to Germany for analysis, sources say. Crews of German and Portuguese investigators spent three days scouring scrubland and abandoned structures including an area where prime suspect Christian Brueckner was living at the time the three-year-old vanished on May 3 2007.
Cops are trying to unearth new evidence linking the German paedophile, 48, to Maddie’s disappearance before he is released from jail. He is currently caged for the rape of a 72-year-old US woman in Praia da Luz, Portugal in 2005 but is due to walk free in September after completing his sentence. Madeleine McCann vanished on May 3 while she was on holiday with her family at the Ocean Club in Praia da Luz.
To read more, click here.
Anders Anglesey
Purpose of separate Portuguese inquiry
A separate inquiry is ongoing in Portugal as German investigators search for clues related to the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.
A well-placed police source added: “The idea is that Portuguese investigators check first whether anything relevant to their inquiry is found and all the results get sent back to Germany once the analysis has been done. German forensic experts have been invited to attend the tests in Portugal.
“They were shown some of the bones that were unearthed last week in a video-conferencing session but couldn’t come to any real conclusions about exactly what they were via the screen they were seeing them on. What we can say for sure is that no samples of any kind recovered during last week’s searches have been taken out of Portugal despite reports to the contrary.”
Anders Anglesey
New evidence could ‘significantly strengthen’ case, say cops
Police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann could “significantly strengthen” their case against prime suspect Christian Brueckner following the discovery of new evidence, according to an expert.
Professor of Forensic Science at the University of Kent, Robert Green, believes discovering “mask, guns, and hard drive” may warrant a more “thorough investigation” into Brueckner’s past.
He told The Mirror: “The discovery of items such as a mask, guns, and particularly the hard drive, indicates a potential link to further criminal activity, which may warrant a more thorough investigation of the suspect’s past.
“The rationale behind the renewed search could stem from the ongoing pursuit of justice in the Madeleine McCann case and the hope that any additional evidence could lead to a breakthrough. Investigators continually assess existing evidence and pursue lines of inquiry they believe could be fruitful, especially in cases that have remained unresolved for many years.”
Brueckner pictured inside the kiosk he ran in Braunschweig in the early 2000s (
Image:
Daily Mirror)
Anders Anglesey
Portuguese investigators’ find ‘ruled out’ for Madeleine connection
A well-placed source in the Portuguese investigation team said some of the objects found during the search were “very old and very rusty.
The source added: “One has already been ruled out as having any connection to the Maddie inquiry. A separate investigation is underway to try to establish how it ended up where it did and what exactly it is.”
