Madeleine McCann suspect turns down Met Police interview

"The Met said an international letter of request was sent to Christian Bruckner, ahead of his imminent release for a separate offence, for him to speak with them which he later rejected. German national Bruckner, 49, has never been charged in the McCann case and denies involvement. Madeleine vanished in the Portuguese resort of Praia da Luz in 2007, shortly after she was left sleeping by her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, who went for dinner in a nearby restaurant."

""We have requested an interview with this German suspect but, for legal reasons, this can only be done via an International Letter of Request which has been submitted," Det Ch Insp Cranwell said. "It was subsequently refused by the suspect. In the absence of an interview, we will nevertheless continue to pursue any viable lines of inquiry. "We can provide no further information while the investigation is ongoing.""

Christian Bruckner, a 49-year-old German national, declined an interview requested by the Metropolitan Police via an international letter of request ahead of his imminent release from a German prison. Bruckner remains a suspect in the investigation into Madeleine McCann's disappearance in Praia da Luz in 2007; he denies involvement and has never been charged in that case. He is serving a seven-year sentence in Germany for the 2005 rape of a 72-year-old woman at her Praia da Luz home and could be released imminently. German prosecutors have indicated evidence placing him in the area in 2007. Police say they will continue viable lines of inquiry.

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