German police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann in 2007 have said that she is “assumed dead”.
A 43-year-old German man, revealed by police today as a new suspect in the case, is being investigated on suspicion of murder, the public prosecutor added.
The suspect, who has been named in the German media as Christian B, is currently serving a prison sentence for a separate offence.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Christian B is believed to have been in the area where McCann, aged three, was last seen while on holiday in Portugal, the BBC says.
Hans Christian Wolters, from the Braunschweig Public Prosecutor's Office in northern Germany, said in an update on Thursday: “We are assuming that the girl is dead.
“With the suspect, we are talking about a sexual predator who has already been convicted of crimes against little girls and he's already serving a long sentence.”
According to Sky News, the suspect had been living in Algarve between 1995 and 2007 and is thought to have financed his life by “committing crimes including thefts in hotels, apartments and drug dealing”.
He worked odd jobs in Lagos, including catering, the public prosecutor said, and last had residence in Braunschweig, Germany before moving abroad.
Read more: Why everybody's talking about the new Madeleine McCaan suspect
The police are appealing for any member of the public with information about the suspect to come forward.
Before the German prosecutor spoke, McCann’s parents (pictured) issued a statement saying: “All we have ever wanted is to find her, uncover the truth and bring those responsible to justice.
“We will never give up hope of finding Madeleine alive but whatever the outcome may be, we need to know as we need to find peace.”
Those with information relating to the case can contact the Met Police’s incident room on 020 7321 9251
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Continue reading for free
We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.
Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.
-
Petition to resignCartoons
-
A weekend in Lausanne: travel guide, things to do, food and drink
The Week Recommends Everything you need to know for a city break on Lake Geneva
-
A Ukraine election in 2024: how it would work
The Explainer Zelenskyy hints that country is ready for March polls but logistical, security and democratic obstacles remain
-
Madeleine McCann: what police are looking for in latest Portuguese search
Under the Radar The long-running investigation, which began in 2007, has turned up a ‘relevant clue’
-
German police say suspect killed lookalike so she could fake her own death
Speed Read
-
What we know about the Copenhagen mall shooting
Speed Read Lone gunman had mental health issues and not thought to have terror motive, police say
-
Texas school shooting: parents turn anger on police
Speed Read Officers had to be urged to enter building where gunman killed 21 people
-
DJ Tim Westwood denies multiple sexual misconduct allegations
Speed Read At least seven women accuse the radio and TV presenter of predatory behaviour dating back three decades
-
What happened to Katie Kenyon?
Speed Read Man charged as police search for missing 33-year-old last seen getting into van
-
Brooklyn subway shooting: exploring New York’s ‘steep decline in law and order’
Speed Read Last week, a gunman set off smoke bombs and opened fire on a rush-hour train in the city
-
Christian Brückner: the suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann
Why Everyone’s Talking About Currently serving a jail sentence for rape, the German has been linked to a string of child abductions
