Metropolitan Police detectives are trying to bring Christian Brueckner to Britain to stand trial for the abduction and murder of Madeleine McCann, The Telegraph can reveal.
One of Scotland Yard’s most senior officers is leading a push to charge the German suspect before the 20th anniversary of Madeleine’s disappearance next year.
The force would like to see Brueckner, 48, stand trial at the Old Bailey and believes it can gather a strong enough case for the Crown Prosecution Service to authorise charges.
However, the German constitution prevents the extradition of its citizens to non-EU countries, which could see Berlin reject the request. This would be likely to provoke a diplomatic and legal row.
If Germany still refuses to hand over the rapist and paedophile, the Met is committed to ensuring that he still faces charges in Germany or in Portugal, where the alleged crime took place.