New evidence found as Madeleine McCann's parents release statement
The German prosecutor in charge of Madeleine McCann’s case has alluded to “new evidence” in relation to the young girl’s disappearance 15 years ago to the day.
Christian Brueckner has been officially declared the first formal suspect in the case - years after Madeleine’s parents were also considered suspects but were cleared in 2008.
In a televised interview, Prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters indicated there is new evidence linking Brueckner to Madeline’s murder but stopped short of revealing any more.
“We are sure that he is the murderer of Madeleine McCann. We are sure that he killed Madeleine McCann,” he said.
“The investigation is still going on and I think we found some new facts, some new evidence – not forensic evidence, but evidence.”
The potential incriminating evidence comes 15 years to the day that Madeleine disappeared on May 3, 2007, with her parents Kate and Gerry McCann releasing a statement.
“This year we mark 15 years since we last saw Madeleine. It feels no harder than any other but no easier either,” the statement read.
“It’s a very long time. Many people talk about the need for closure. It’s always felt a strange term.
“Regardless of outcome, Madeleine will always be our daughter and a truly horrific crime has been committed. These things will remain.”
Brueckner, 45, is currently serving seven years for raping a 72-year-old woman, and is being probed over the 2004 rape of a second woman and sexual assault of a 10-year-old girl at Praia da Luz a month before Madeleine disappeared
Image: Getty