After years of search for what happened to Madeleine McCann after she disappeared at the age of three, it seems like the officials are close to getting some answers as one suspect has been arrested in the case. However, the suspect arrested has been given the status of arguido. "Arguido" is a term used by the country's authorities to categorize somebody who is being treated as more than a witness, but is yet to be arrested or charged.
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Christian Brueckner, the man who has been named as the main suspect in Madeleine McCann's disappearance - has broken his silence.
Brueckner, 45, was declared an "arguido" by Portuguese prosecutors earlier this week.
"Arguido" is term used by the country's authorities to categorize somebody who is being treated as more than a witness, but is yet to be arrested or charged.
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According to BBC News, the German authorities informed Brueckner that he is a suspect on Thursday, per the request of Portuguese prosecutors.
Recently, Brueckner released a letter from his prison cell in which he described himself as "the most known bad person in the world".
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Brueckner is currently being held at Oldenburg jail in Germany, where he is serving a rape sentence.
Writing a five-page long letter, Brueckner stated: "I'm the most-known bad person in the world and I did nothing - well almost nothing."
He went on to say that he "wasn't attacking anybody" after he turned 18, adding: "I made some silly mistakes when I was younger but who hasn't?"
Referring directly to McCann's disappearance, Brueckner continued: "They had [sic] not even one proof that I was involved with the McCann case. And they still don't have it."
Brueckner says that he is being treated like this only because of his criminal history.
"They have no hairs or anything from Maddie what means [sic] that nobody can put anything like that into my stuff to find it," he wrote.
He further writes: "I haven't been questioned on any allegations as required by German law, but it is obvious the German authorities and especially the Department of Justice, are providing the media with information about me that is likely to make me appear contemptible."
Madeleine McCann disappeared after her family went on vacation in Praia da Luz, Portugal, back in 2007. She was only 3-years old at the time.
When she disappeared, her parents were dining with friends at a nearby tapas restaurant.
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She is yet to be found.
According to BBC News at the time of her disappearance, Brueckner was living in a close area out of a camper van.
Experts say a phone attributed to Brueckner placed him within a 30-minute window of the McCann's vacation resort.
The disturbed parents Kate and Gerry McCann have also released a statement on the Official Find Madeleine Campaign Facebook page responding to the news that Brueckner had been named as an "arguido".
"We welcome the news that the Portuguese authorities have declared a German man an 'arguido' in relation to the disappearance of our beloved daughter Madeleine," the couple said. "This reflects progress in the investigation, being conducted by the Portuguese, German and British authorities. We are kept informed of developments by the Metropolitan police."
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They continued: "It is important to note the 'arguido' has not yet been charged with any specific crime related to Madeleine’s disappearance."
"Even though the possibility may be slim, we have not given up hope that Madeleine is still alive and we will be reunited with her," they added.
Credit: James Boardman Archive / Alamy