British authorities have covertly traveled to Portugal to interrogate former associates of the prime suspect in the Madeleine McCann case, Christian Brueckner. The individuals, who harbored the convicted sex offender shortly before Madeleine’s disappearance in Praia da Luz in 2007, underwent questioning in Faro over several hours. Metropolitan Police reportedly made a discreet trip to Portugal to engage with Elke Piro, 69, and her spouse Bernhard, 72, both acquainted with Brueckner for an extended period.
Meanwhile, the suspect was relocated to a different facility in Germany following a seven-year imprisonment for assaulting an elderly woman in the same area where Madeleine vanished. Elke, a German citizen, is convinced that Brueckner was involved in something harmful to three-year-old Madeleine. During an interview with The Sun, she expressed her frustration at not being able to provide new information to the British authorities.
Expressing her belief that Brueckner encountered Madeleine while searching her parents’ residence and likely committed a crime, Elke lamented their acquaintance with the perpetrator after learning about his criminal past. Met Police Chief Sir Mark Rowley has hinted at the possibility of Brueckner facing extradition to the UK if fresh evidence emerges. Operation Grange, the Met’s investigative effort into the disappearance, seems to be intensifying as German authorities have not made significant progress in the lengthy inquiry.
The Met declined to comment on the ongoing investigations. According to The Sun, Met detectives collaborated with Portuguese counterparts from the Judicial Police to interview the Piros separately in Faro. The couple’s involvement with Brueckner dates back to their initial meeting in 1995 in the Algarve, maintaining contact until 2018. This is not the first time they have been questioned by law enforcement, having been previously interviewed by German and Portuguese officials.
Bernhard described Brueckner as a “classic sociopath” and expressed remorse over hosting him near Praia da Luz. Elke mentioned Brueckner’s dual personalities, describing him as both gentle and kind at times, but exhibiting erratic and sexually obsessed behavior when intoxicated. She noted his alcoholism and excessive drinking habits.
