Madeleine McCann cops probe ‘gun found during Praia search' after Brueckner had owned pistols
Prime suspect Christian Brueckner is said to have carried a gun during his time in the Algarve
'GUN FIND' Madeleine McCann cops probe 'gun found during Praia search' after Brueckner had owned pistols
MADELEINE McCann cops were investigating two objects uncovered during their search described by local media as 'guns'.
Portuguese daily newspaper Correio da Manha reported two firearms had been found in the area of scrubland above Praia da Luz, searched last week.
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Madeleine vanished on May 3, 2007, while on holiday with her family in Praia da Luz in Portugal
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Christian Brueckner is believed to be the lead suspect in the girl's disappearance
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Two firearms had been found in the area of scrubland above Praia da Luz
Credit: Dan Charity
One of the handguns was dismissed as 'irrelevant' to the McCann investigation and linked to another probe.
The other weapon, found in a well, was said to be more modern. Both were described as rusty and historic with cops expecting neither to hold Maddie links.
Watch The Sun's exclusive documentary on the Maddie case here
However, prime suspect Christian Brueckner, 48, is said to have carried a gun during his time in the Algarve.
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A Sun investigation revealed he previously owned two antique pistols.
A Portuguese investigator, speaking on condition of anonymity, said of the gun reports: 'The objects found are very old and very rusty.
'I'd describe them almost as archeological artefacts.'
Another well-placed insider added: 'One has already been ruled out as having any connection to the Maddie inquiry.
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'A separate investigation is underway to try to establish how it ended up where it did and what exactly it is.'
Reports claimed all the objects and samples taken from the search were set to be tested in Portuguese capital Lisbon.
Madeleine McCann cops probe samples of 'clothes & bones found in new Praia da Luz dig' for links to suspect Brueckner
Sources in Germany said anything of value would be retained by German investigation leads.
Luis Neves, the National Director of the Policia Judiciaria police force insisted last Friday the searches had 'not been in vain' despite the apparent lack of results.
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This comes just hours after it was reported cops sent samples from their search in Portugal for testing.
The three-day search had widely been labeled a flop after police appeared to leave the site next to Praia da Luz empty-handed last week.
TIMELINE OF EVENTS
HERE'S a timeline of the case which has gripped the world.
May 3, 2007
Madeleine McCann disappears from her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, sparking a massive police search and becoming one of the most famous missing persons cases in history.
January 15, 2016
Neighbour reports a possible 'grave' at Brueckner's abandoned factory in East Germany.
Cops find disturbing images on USB sticks and launch a full-scale search.
February 16, 2016
Christian Brueckner is convicted for abusing a girl of five in a park after images found on his laptop.
He was sentenced to 15-months behind bars but was already on the run by then.
May 3, 2017
Around this time, Helge B calls an information hotline after watching a ten-year anniversary special on the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.
He reports an alleged confession by Christian Brueckner.
September 27, 2018
On-the-run Christian Brueckner is arrested over outstanding drugs claims in Italy.
He is extradited to Germany the following year.
December 16, 2019
Christian Brueckner was convicted, in Germany, for the 2005 rape of an American woman in Praia da Luz, Portugal, after his DNA was matched to a hair found on her bed.
He was sentenced to seven years behind bars.
June 4, 2020
German prosecutors reveal to the world they have a suspect in custody under investigation for the abduction of Madeleine McCann.
For the first time they claim Madeleine is dead.
German media later name him as Christian B (Christian Brueckner).
June 23, 2023
In his first interview, witness Helge B alleges to German newspaper Bild that Christian Brueckner all-but-confessed the Madeleine abduction to him, by allegedly saying 'she didn't scream' as they talked about the case, at a music festival, in Spain.
February 16, 2024
Brueckner goes on trial accused of none-McCann allegations of rape and sex assault, in Braunschweig, Germany.
Prosecutors hope for a conviction to keep him behind bars permanently and lead to McCann charges.
October 8, 2024
Brueckner was acquitted of all claims.
Prosecutors launch an appeal, however. Decision pending.
September 17, 2025
Date on which Christian Brueckner will be released from custody without action being taken.
Prosecutors require an arrest warrant for a retrial over claims from last year - or over the McCann case.
But eagle-eyed police did find tiny fragments, which they are speculating could have links to Maddie after prime suspect Brueckner wild camped at the site.
The samples were sent to Germany for testing amid hopes they could finally reveal the forensic link cops are missing on the case.
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Cops are understood to have found clothes and animal bones during the extensive search through an area known as Brueckner's "rat run".
Without evidence pinning it to the convicted German rapist, prosecutors risk not being able to get the arrest warrant they need to keep Brueckner behind bars.
The claims were made in the Berlin Morning Post.
A source said: 'Several objects have apparently been discovered, which are now being examined in more detail by the police in the laboratory.
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'As Portuguese media report, clothing debris and bones were found, among other things.
'The investigators have not officially commented on whether the finds could have anything to do with Madeleine's disappearance but that is clearly their hope.'
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One weapon, found in a well, was said to be more modern
Credit: Dan Charity
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Police have been searching various sites in and around the resort of Pria du Luz
Credit: Dan Charity
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