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Scottish Sun
07-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Who is Christian Brueckner's ex-girlfriend Nakscije Miftari and what has she said about the Madeleine McCann case?
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE EX-GIRLFRIEND of Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner revealed that he claimed to being close to the child's apartment on the night she vanished. A Sun investigation, to be broadcast tonight at 9pm on Channel 4, will reveal the shocking discoveries made by a German Police search of Brueckner's home - here's what we know about his ex-partner. Who is Nakscije Miftari? 4 Nakscije Miftari, who is German of Kosovan origin, pictured with her boyfriend and Maddie McCann suspect Christian Brueckner Nakscije Miftari, a German of Kosovan origin, is the ex-girlfriend of Brueckner. She was living in the German town of Braunschweig when she first met the convicted paedophile. After moving to Portugal with Brueckner in 2014, Nakscije was deported back to Germany less than a year later. Nakscije's upbringing and career aren't widely reported, although she is trying to rebuild her life after leaving Brueckner, who is believed to have kidnapped Madeleine. Despite this Brueckner, known as Christian B denies abducting the British toddler. As of May 2025, Nakscije is 29 years old. When did Nakscije Miftari date Christian Brueckner? 4 Nakscije Miftari dated Madeleine McCann disappearance suspect Christian Brueckner when she was a teenager 4 Prime suspect in the Madeleine McCann case Christian Brueckner pictured in court in Braunschweig, Germany Credit: Dan Charity Nakscije met Brueckner in 2013, when she was only 17 years old, at a kiosk in Braunschweig. She would regularly visit the kiosk to buy sweets, where she met the 'charming and generous' owner, Brueckner. In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, Nakscije said: 'The first time I saw him, he was on his mobile phone at the kiosk, he got off the phone and said, 'Hello lady, how can I help you?' I was surprised as no one called me a lady before. 'He asked me to have a look and choose what I wanted. Then, when I asked him how much I should pay, he said, 'Nothing, a lady doesn't have to pay in my kiosk.' Despite the gap, the pair began dating, and Nakscije even considered marrying the German until their relationship turned violent. The violence began after Nakscije discovered child pornography on his mobile phone and laptop, much of it featuring blonde girls. After confronting Brueckner about the videos - some of he even featured in - he launched a physical attack on her. She added: 'I asked him about the videos and pictures, and that's when he punched me. I fell down the stairs and was unconscious for about ten minutes.' Ms Miftari and her mother reported the assault to police, which led to officers raiding Brueckner's flat. They recovered electronic equipment which was later revealed to contain 391 child porn photographs and 68 videos, including images of Brueckner abusing the five-year-old daughter of one of his previous girlfriends in a park. Despite her mother's pleas, Nakscije remained in contact with Brueckner while he fled to Portugal to escape being arrested. He was eventually returned to Germany on a European arrest warrant in 2017 and was later given a 15-month prison term for abusing the five-year-old. What has Nakscije Miftari said about Christian Brueckner? 4 Kate and Gerry McCann were dining with friends at a nearby tapas restaurant when their daughter vanished Credit: PA While serving his prison sentence, German Police announced that Brueckner had become the lead suspect in the Madeleine McCann case. But the authorities lacked any evidence to charge the German with the crime, but Nakscije's breakthrough testimony is the first to include Brueckner stating he was near the crime scene. Madeleine vanished from her family's holiday apartment while her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, were dining with friends at a nearby tapas restaurant. Nakscije recalled Brueckner falling silent when the subject of Madeleine's abduction was raised by friends during a party in early 2014 at their flat in Braunschweig. She said: 'I remember he made no answer to the question. After they went, I asked about Maddie, as I did not know anything about her 'I asked him about it and he said, 'I know about Maddie, I was near the hotel at the time. I was living in the area at the time. I am not going to say anything more. I am not a stupid guy, I am a businessman.' German police have established that Brueckner, who denies any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance and has refused to speak to police or prosecutors, was living in the Algarve. Mobile phone signals show he was near the Ocean Club resort on the evening of May 3, 2007. Nakscije continued: 'I have no feelings anymore for Christian. 'I have heard so much about him in the past year and I was always hoping it was not true, even today.' Brueckner is currently in prison serving a seven-and-a-half-year prison term for the rape of an American pensioner in Praia da Luz in 2005.
The Irish Sun
07-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
Who is Christian Brueckner's ex-girlfriend Nakscije Miftari and what has she said about the Madeleine McCann case?
THE EX-GIRLFRIEND of Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner revealed that he claimed to being close to the child's apartment on the night she vanished. Who is Nakscije Miftari? 4 Nakscije Miftari, who is German of Kosovan origin, pictured with her boyfriend and Maddie McCann suspect Christian Brueckner Nakscije Miftari, a German of Kosovan origin, is the ex-girlfriend of She was living in the German town of Braunschweig when she first met After moving to Portugal with Brueckner in 2014, Nakscije was deported back to Germany less than a year later. Nakscije's upbringing and career aren't widely reported, although she is trying to rebuild her life after leaving Brueckner, who is the prime suspect in the vanishing of Madeleine. Read More on Christian B Despite this Brueckner, known as As of May 2025, Nakscije is 29 years old. When did Nakscije Miftari date Christian Brueckner? 4 Nakscije Miftari dated Madeleine McCann disappearance suspect Christian Brueckner when she was a teenager 4 Prime suspect in the Madeleine McCann case Christian Brueckner pictured in court in Braunschweig, Germany Credit: Dan Charity Nakscije met Brueckner in 2013, when she was only 17 years old, at a kiosk in Braunschweig. She would regularly visit the kiosk to buy sweets, where she met Most read in The Sun In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, Nakscije said: 'The first time I saw him, he was on his mobile phone at the kiosk, he got off the phone and said, 'Hello lady, how can I help you?' I was surprised as no one called me a lady before. 'He asked me to have a look and choose what I wanted. Then, when I asked him how much I should pay, he said, 'Nothing, a lady doesn't have to pay in my kiosk.' Despite the gap, the pair began dating, and Nakscije even considered marrying the German until their relationship turned violent. The violence began after Nakscije discovered child pornography on his mobile phone and laptop, much of it featuring blonde girls. After confronting Brueckner about the videos - some of he even featured in - he launched a physical attack on her. She added: 'I asked him about the videos and pictures, and that's when he punched me. I fell down the stairs and was unconscious for about ten minutes.' Ms Miftari and her mother reported the assault to police, which led to officers They recovered electronic equipment which was later revealed to contain 391 child porn photographs and 68 videos, including images of Brueckner abusing the five-year-old daughter of one of his previous girlfriends in a park. Despite her mother's pleas, Nakscije remained in contact with Brueckner while he fled to Portugal to escape being arrested. He was eventually returned to Germany on a European arrest warrant in 2017 and was later given a 15-month prison term for abusing the five-year-old. What has Nakscije Miftari said about Christian Brueckner? 4 Kate and Gerry McCann were dining with friends at a nearby tapas restaurant when their daughter vanished Credit: PA While serving his prison sentence, German Police announced that Brueckner had become the lead suspect in the Madeleine McCann case. But the authorities Madeleine vanished from her family's holiday apartment while her parents, Nakscije recalled Brueckner falling silent when the subject of She said: 'I remember he made no answer to the question. After they went, I asked about Maddie, as I did not know anything about her 'I asked him about it and he said, 'I know about Maddie, I was near the hotel at the time. I was living in the area at the time. I am not going to say anything more. I am not a stupid guy, I am a businessman.' German police have established that Brueckner, who denies any involvement in Mobile phone signals show he was near the Nakscije continued: 'I have no feelings anymore for Christian. 'I have heard so much about him in the past year and I was always hoping it was not true, even today.' Brueckner is currently in prison serving a seven-and-a-half-year prison term for the rape of an American pensioner in
The Sun
03-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Kosovo opens embassy in KL
PETALING JAYA: Ties between Malaysia and Kosovo took a major leap yesterday with the opening of Kosovo's first embassy in Kuala Lumpur, an event Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim described as 'a significant milestone' in bilateral relations. Anwar said the move marked a new era of cooperation and engagement between the two nations. The embassy, officially launched at 6pm yesterday, is expected to strengthen strategic partnerships across multiple sectors, including trade, investment, education, culture and tourism. 'This will certainly facilitate greater collaboration across various sectors and of course includes the halal industry. 'Malaysia's halal certification is internationally recognised, and will not only ease the export of our products but also support Kosovo in promoting its own exports to Muslim-majority markets,' said Anwar at a joint media conference with Kosovo President Dr Vjosa Osmani Sadriu. The president said having the embassy in Malaysia marked a new chapter built on shared values and deep trust. Osmani also praised Malaysia's visa waiver for Kosovars as a gesture of friendship and vowed closer ties in cybersecurity, counterterrorism and disaster response. 'Our gratitude will never fade,' she said, highlighting plans to deepen university partnerships and cultural exchanges. Osmani is in Malaysia for a four-day visit. She arrived on Thursday and was accorded a formal welcome ceremony at the Perdana Putra Complex in Putrajaya yesterday. Anwar also hosted an official luncheon in her honour at the Seri Perdana Complex. He stressed the importance of boosting economic ties between the two nations, adding that Kosovo's connections with the European Union could open doors for broader cooperation. 'We can tap into Kosovo's strengths and its strong ties with the EU. I look forward to deeper engagements beyond just technical cooperation under the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme. 'Please be assured, President, we do not see this as a routine diplomatic move. Malaysia is a true friend, and we are fully committed to this relationship.' The leaders discussed a range of international issues, particularly those involving sovereignty, human rights and peace. 'We had candid conversations about global issues. Both our nations believe deeply in the principles of independence, the protection of human rights and respect for human dignity,' said Anwar. He said shared concerns include the situation in Palestine and broader efforts towards global peace. He added that Malaysia admires the resilience of the Kosovan people following the hardships of the 1990s. 'Malaysians, as many of you know, followed closely the events in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in Kosovo. When Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was prime minister, he took an early and courageous step in recognising the independent Republic of Kosovo.' Malaysia was among the first countries to do so after Kosovo declared independence in 2008. Diplomatic relations were formally established on March 18, 2011, according to the Foreign Ministry. Osmani thanked Malaysia for its unwavering support during Kosovo's toughest times in 1999 and its early recognition of independence in 2008, calling the country 'more than a friend – a true partner.' In 2024, total bilateral trade reached RM28.55 million, with Malaysian exports amounting to RM25.92 million and imports RM2.63 million. Key exports include palm oil, electrical and electronic products and manufactured goods, while imports mainly comprised raw materials and semi-precious stones.
Daily Mirror
27-04-2025
- Daily Mirror
'My TV star friend was shot in head by cold-blooded killer - now's our chance for justice'
John Simpson has called on the police to open up a new investigation into the tragic murder of BBC star Jill Dando, after The Mirror found new evidence into who could have murdered Jill It's been 26 years since the BBC 's Jill Dando was shot dead in broad daylight. At the time her colleague and friend John Simpson was reporting from Serbia as Nato bombed the country. Today - with the killer still at large - John is calling on police to open a new investigation that could finally get justice for Jill. It comes after we found new evidence that suggests that Jill was murdered by the Serbian security services because she had made an appeal for Kosovan refugees. Two key witnesses have put Serbian assassin Milorad Ulemek in the frame. Ulemek, now 57 and serving 40 years in a Serbian jail, led a unit of hitmen and plotted assassinations for late Serbian dictator Slobodan Milosevic. A facial comparison expert has found he was identical to a CCTV image of a man filmed near the scene. Mystery 18 minutes of Jill Dando murder – betting slip, sweating man and key mark We have now revealed that Ulemek's spyboss has admitted one of his commandos carried out an attack in Europe. At the time Jill was shot, UK planes were bombing Serbia and she was one of the most famous faces on TV, presenting BBC shows such as Crimewatch and Holiday. Within hours of her murder, the BBC took a call claiming it was in response to a Nato attack on a Belgrade TV station. As the Met considers its next move, BBC veteran John explains why it's the duty of police to investigate the new information... Firstly, many congratulations on the remarkable facts you've discovered about Jill's murder, and congratulations too on keeping the investigation going. It was one of the most shocking and mysterious murders of modern times, and shouldn't simply be forgotten because it's so difficult to solve. If the Met has lost interest — which is what it sounds like — then an outside force with no prejudices should definitely be called in to investigate it. There should, I think, be a full review of the case. There was a full-scale media battle over the coverage of the war. I was in Belgrade for the BBC, and came under attack from the Blair government for reporting what was self-evidently true: instead of turning the Serbs against their dictatorial leader Slobodan Milosevic, the daily and nightly bombing by British and other air forces made them angrier and more inclined to support Milosevic, even if they didn't like him. Blair and his spokesman Alastair Campbell were badly rattled by my report, and accused me of operating under the instructions of the Serbian government. Given all the anger and threats I was getting from the Serbian government, the police and the security organisations, this was an outrageous lie. The BBC from the chairman down gave me its full support, and when I threatened to sue Campbell he backed down. I honestly don't know whether Jill was targeted because of something she said on air — particularly about Kosovo. I was in Belgrade when the news of her murder came through, and at that stage the journalists there felt certain she had been killed by Serb agents, perhaps because of the appeal she had recorded on behalf of Kosovo. Almost all the main Western news organisations pulled out of Belgrade at that time because the Serbian warlord Arkan (later murdered himself) had threatened to cut the throats of every British and American journalist who stayed on in Belgrade. He even revealed the room numbers of some of us in the main press hotel in Belgrade. The rest of the BBC team left, but I decided to stay on and was there for the entire course of the war. That experience made me question whether Jill had been murdered by a Serbian agent, because it would have been so easy to come and kill me if they had wanted to make a statement of that kind. I also felt that if they had murdered Jill and got away with it, they would have crowed about it — something their propagandists were inclined to do. But I nowadays think it is entirely possible that a Serbian agent who found himself in London at the time decided to stage an attack like this in order to make a political point — whether authorised by Belgrade or simply off his own bat. Maybe he knew where Jill lived and killed her as a result. Either Belgrade didn't know beforehand, or else they approved it but then decided to say nothing when they saw what an outcry Jill's murder had created. As a person, Jill was very gentle and quite insecure — not at all the tough operator with sharp elbows most people think news presenters must be. I don't think anyone who worked with her disliked her: she had a real charm, and never as far as I know used her good looks to get on. Her work really mattered to her — she wasn't one of those people, of whom there've been plenty, who used the fame her job gave her to promote her own career. I thought she was a brilliant news presenter, because she genuinely wanted to tell people what was happening — not how great she was. For the twenty-six years since her death I have puzzled over it and longed to find out who was responsible, and why. To this day, I often go over the facts in my mind. She was such a professional, I feel it's hugely in the public interest to know whether or not she died because of her work. I certainly don't feel it's good enough to give up trying to find out why she died, simply because so much time has elapsed since that terrible day. If you've uncovered her murderer, I'd feel a huge burden had been lifted from me.
Daily Record
26-04-2025
- Daily Record
Key 18 minutes of Jill Dando murder including sweating man and betting slip
Eight witnesses of Jill Dando's murder have described seeing a man acting suspiciously during a crucial 18 minute period. Every one of them spoke of a white man of a roughly similar age, height and build wearing dark, smart clothing, who was near the crime scene in Fulham, South West London. On the morning of April 26, 1999, five said he stood out because he was running in a suit, while two said he was sweating heavily. All of the sightings were made between the moment when Jill was last seen alive , at approximately 11.29am, and when her body was discovered at 11.47am. In the weeks after the murder, they were the main focus of the police investigation, with officers releasing an efit of a "sweating man" they were hunting. Despite raising actions to "trace, interview and eliminate" the man or men from their enquiries, he or they, are still wanted 26 years on, reports the Mirror . Detectives homed in on a local man with severe learning difficulties, Barry George, nearly a year after the murder. Crucially, none of the eight witnesses said George was the man they had seen. He was jailed for eight years for the murder before being cleared after a retrial. Police are now being urged to launch a review after a van driver, one of the eight witnesses, said a man he nearly hit looked like ruthless Serbian assassin Milorad Ulemek. A female witness told us last year that she was certain she had seen Ulemek in the same stretch of the Fulham Palace Road at around the same time. Ulemek, who speaks good English, was of a similar age, build, height and hair colour to the descriptions given by the eight. Now 57 and serving 40 years in a Serbian jail, he led a unit of hitmen and plotted assassinations for late Serbian dictator Slobodan Milosevic. Last year we named him for the first time in connection with Jill's murder after a facial comparison expert said he was identical to a CCTV image of a man still wanted for questioning. At the time Jill was shot , UK planes were bombing Serbia and she was one of the most famous faces on TV, presenting BBC shows such as Crimewatch and Holiday. It was feared Jill may have been targeted for fronting a BBC charity appeal for Kosovan refugees. A third witness , Ken Williams, now 83, had just placed a bet when he reported seeing an athletic suspect spin off the bonnet of a moving car on the same stretch of road as the two motorist witnesses. Ken was waiting at a pelican crossing on the Fulham Palace Road with his black labrador Angie when the man appeared approximately 300 meters from where Jill lay dead outside her Gowan Avenue home. The exact time that Jill was killed is not known for certain. Ken's betting slip had a timestamp of 11.37.02, police files show, and the Tote bookies was less than two minutes walk from the pelican crossing. Jill had last been seen alive at around 11.29 getting into her car a few minutes drive from her home. Her neighbour, Richard Hughes, then a 32-year-old financial trader, told detectives he saw the killer a few minutes after he had made a short phone call which billing records showed was at 11.33, police files reveal. Mr Hughes told detectives he thought the murder was "nearer to 11.40". But the only other person to definitely see the gunman , Goeffrey Upfill-Brown, then 71, estimated it could not have been after 11.29, a finding contradicted by the last known sighting. Jill's body was not discovered immediately and the first 999 call was made at 11.47. A sixth witness was standing at a bus stop eating an orange 120 meters from Ken on the Fulham Palace Road at approximately 11.40. The 34-year-old man told police he was joined by a "sweating man" in a dark suit in his 30s who was 5ft11 who crossed the road from the direction of Bishops Park Road. An e-fit produced by this witness looks like Ulemek and features a mark across the bridge of his nose. The Serb has a similar distinctive mark. He said: "He was white but had what I call a foreign was prominent. It also had a very obvious mark across the bridge similar to somebody who would wear glasses a lot." He said the man appeared "agitated as if something was wrong" and was sweating so much his collar was wet. The sweating man failed to get on either the 74 or the 220 the only two buses that the stop served and the witness said this "registered this as a strange event". He went to police as soon as he heard Jill had been murdered because he felt he had seen something important. The seventh witness was a driver of the 74 bus who came forward after recognising the e-fit. He said it was just after 11.45 when he picked up a man in his 30s wearing a dark suit who was sweating. The passenger said "Putney Bridge station" in a quiet voice with no noticeable accent and got off at around 11.56. The female motorist, one of the two witnesses who says she saw Ulemek, was driving north up the Fulham Palace Road around 200 meters from where Ken was. Her vehicle was captured on CCTV crossing Putney Bridge from south of the river at 11.24am and the prosecution at George's trial claimed she was too early to see the killer . But the woman, who said she knew the stretch of road well, believed it could have taken her up to 15 minutes, meaning she could have seen the gunman. She picked out the man she saw running in CCTV a month after the murder. The suspect, in a dark suit and tie known as "Man X", was pictured in Putney Bridge tube station at 12.00.32, close to the 74 bus stop where the driver said the man got off. In a report compiled for the Daily Mirror, facial comparison expert Emi Polito could find no differences between Ulemek and Man X. The eighth witness was a 23-year-old aromatherapist who was at home on the Fulham Palace Road when she said she saw a man run past in a suit while talking on a mobile phone.
