Madeleine McCann’s parents today ‘welcomed’ news that German rapist Christian Brueckner has been made an ‘arguido’ – the Portuguese term for an official suspect, MailOnline can reveal.
Brueckner, 44, who has been linked to four other child murders across Europe since 1996, was sensationally named by German prosecutors as the man ‘responsible’ for Madeleine’s kidnap and murder in June 2020. Since then no charges have been brought.
But on the eve of the 15th anniversary of Maddie’s disappearance, the German rapist and child sex offender was handed a document in prison informing him he was being made an ‘arguido’ by Portuguese prosecutors, who could now summon him to the Algarve for questioning.
Kate and Gerry have said they are fully aware of the latest development in the case which emerged last night – and are understood to be encouraged by the news.
A source close to the couple told MailOnline: ’Anything that implies progress in the case is to be welcomed and that is the view of both Kate and Gerry.
‘They won’t be saying anything publicly just yet but that’s not to say they won’t in the next few days ahead of the anniversary of Madeleine’s disappearance.
‘Kate and Gerry both still have hope they will get answers in due course to what happened to Madeleine and anything which goes towards that is welcomed.’
The couple later added in a statement: ‘We welcome the news that the Portuguese authorities have declared a German man an “arguido” in relation to the disappearance of our beloved daughter Madeleine.
‘This reflects progress in the investigation, being conducted by the Portuguese, German and British authorities. We are kept informed of developments by the Metropolitan police.
‘It is important to note the “arguido” has not yet been charged with any specific crime related to Madeleine’s disappearance.
‘Even though the possibility may be slim, we have not given up hope that Madeleine is still alive and we will be reunited with her.
Earlier this year it was reported that Home Office funding for Operation Grange – the Metropolitan Police investigation into their daughter’s disappearance – would be shelved in the autumn but their was no official response from Kate and Gerry.
The last public comment on Madeleine was on their official Find Madeleine website on Christmas Eve, where the McCanns thanked their supporters as they faced their ‘fifteenth Christmas without Madeleine’.
Christian Brueckner is also under investigation for two further rapes carried out in Portugal close to where she vanished.
Hans-Christian Wolters, from the Brunswick prosecutor’s office in Germany, revealed that Bruekner faces investigation over the cases.
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