The prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann will be free to roam the streets after a German regional court ruled to end his 24/7 police surveillance. The decision, effective from midnight on Friday, has sparked outrage and fear among locals in Kiel, northeast Germany, where paedophile Christian Brueckner, 48, has been living in a portacabin near the city centre.
Surveillance Ended Despite Concerns
Brueckner has been under constant guard for more than six months, but a Daily Express investigation last month revealed that he was frequently seen walking alone and evaded officers by cycling down routes inaccessible to vehicles. Despite the surveillance order, Brueckner reportedly toyed with police multiple times, riding paths they could not follow in their cars.
Kiel Police have appealed the court's decision, but Brueckner will now only be required to wear an ankle tag, allowing him to move freely without direct observation. The move has alarmed residents, especially as the city prepares for Kieler Woche, a massive sailing festival expected to attract millions of families and children.
Violent Altercations and Public Anger
Since his release from prison in September for a rape conviction, Brueckner has been involved in at least two violent altercations with locals. In April, he engaged in a fist fight with an Englishman living in Kiel, and in another incident, he was threatened by an Irishman who hit him with a bicycle. Brueckner reportedly taunted the man, asking, "Are you not afraid of the monster?"
A parent involved in protest groups monitoring Brueckner's movements expressed fury: "To say I'm astonished and outraged is an understatement. This is a high-risk repeat offender who has played cat and mouse with the police. It's insane to end monitoring now, with millions of tourists coming to Kiel."
The parent added: "We're all supposed to live in the nightmare of a monster in our area, waiting for him to strike again. The authorities are failing in their duty of care to citizens."
Background on Brueckner and the McCann Case
Brueckner has never been charged in connection with Madeleine McCann's disappearance, but German prosecutors consider him the prime suspect. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley confirmed he "remains a suspect for us." Madeleine vanished from a holiday apartment in Praia de Luz, Portugal, in 2007 at age three, becoming one of the world's most famous missing person cases.
Brueckner has a history of convictions, including for sexually abusing children in 1994 and 2016, and served seven and a half years for raping a 72-year-old American tourist in Praia da Luz in 2005. Despite mobile phone data placing him near the McCann apartment at the time of her disappearance, German prosecutors have failed to gather enough evidence to bring charges.
Police Response and Future Risks
Kiel Police stated: "The court order for the surveillance of Christian B. has not been extended. We filed an appeal yesterday, and a decision is still pending. The safety of citizens remains our top priority. Even without this measure, we will continue to fulfill our duties of preventing danger and prosecuting crimes."
The decision has drawn sharp criticism from local parents, who had previously staged angry protests, forcing authorities to move Brueckner between shelters and hotels. At one point, he lived in a tent in a forest. With the surveillance lifted, fears are growing that Brueckner may strike again, particularly during the upcoming Kieler Woche festival.
