CONVICTED RAPIST AND CHILD ABUSER NAMED AS OFFICIAL SUSPECT IN MADELINE MCCANN CASE

Police in Portugal have confirmed that convicted rapist Christian Brueckner has been formally appointed as an 'Arguido' in the case of missing Madeline McCann, a term used in the country for an official named suspect.

The 44-year-old who is already in custody in Germany for the 2005 rape of a 72-year-old woman in the same town from which 3-year-old Madeline went missing just two years later in 2007.

He has been formally notified that Police in Portugal have taken the steps to name him as an Arguido, although he has not yet been formally charged. It is thought that the reason for acting now is due to Portugal's 15-year statute of limitations about to expire on the case.

Brueckner, an already convicted child abuser had allegedly made a confession to a friend in which he details snatching the youngster as she slept in her bed within the Praia da Luz apartment.

Both parents had left Madeline unattended along with two younger siblings whilst they socialised with friends at a nearby bar in the resort. A Europe wide search soon followed her disappearance but to no avail. They were also both named as Arguido's in the case themselves but the status was lifted in 2008 after the case was archived by the Portuguese.

Phone records place Christian at the same resort on the evening of Madeline's disappearance, a luxury campervan he was living in at the time is now the focus of a forensic search for clues. Police in Germany already consider him to be the prime suspect in the case.

It is now possible that Brueckner who is serving a 7-year sentence in a German prison, could be extradited to face questioning and possible charges in Portugal. He has denied involvement.