The prime suspect in the high-profile case of Madeleine McCann’s disappearance has been released from prison in Germany, where he has been serving a sentence for an unrelated offence. <\/p>\n
Christian Br\u00fcckner was driven out in a black Audi by his lawyer with a police escort shortly after 09:00 local time (07:00 GMT). Br\u00fcckner wasn’t visible in the car but police confirmed he left Sehnde prison.<\/p>\n
He had been convicted of raping a 72-year-old American woman in Portugal in 2005, and will be fitted with an ankle tag after his release from the prison near the northern city of Hanover. <\/p>\n
The German national, 48, has never been charged with any crime in relation to the McCann case. He denies any involvement.<\/p>\n
Local police spokesman Lars Dehnert told the BBC: “We said before that we wanted this to happen as smoothly as possible”, adding that Br\u00fcckner would be escorted for a short distance.<\/p>\n
“With this our police operation has terminated.<\/p>\n
“We don’t have any knowledge about where Christian B is going to go. This is happening in co-operation with his lawyers,” the spokesman added.<\/p>\n
Br\u00fcckner’s lawyers have also refused to say.<\/p>\n
Madeleine vanished in the Portuguese resort of Praia da Luz in 2007. She and her siblings had been left sleeping in a holiday apartment while her parents, Kate and Gerry, went to a nearby restaurant.<\/p>\n
Madeleine’s disappearance has become one of the highest-profile unsolved missing person cases in the world.<\/p>\n
German prosecutors have pointed to evidence – including mobile phone data – indicating Br\u00fcckner may have been in the area when she vanished, and have consistently insisted that they think he is responsible.<\/p>\n
However, they have not found strong enough evidence to bring charges. <\/p>\n
Br\u00fcckner, who spent many years in the Algarve, was a drifter, a petty criminal and a convicted sex offender. He has several previous convictions, including for sexually abusing children in 1994 and 2016.<\/p>\n