A cache of chilling evidence in the lair of paedophile Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner has been uncovered for the first time.
A fresh probe has laid bare disturbing items discovered at the paedophile rapist's abandoned property in Germany - which shows Brueckner's obsession with young children and could provide crucial links to McCann's disappearance.
Children's clothes and toys were found at the property, alongside masks, chemicals, guns, and a hard drive containing pictures which German investigators are keeping secret.
This digital evidence is believed to indicate why authorities are convinced Madeleine is dead.
Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner pictured in a court in Germany
ReutersThe search also uncovered 75 children's swimming costumes at the childless Brueckner's bolthole.
Much of the evidence was found by chance at a disused factory Brueckner purchased for £20,000 in 2008, a year after Madeleine vanished.
In 2016, a dog ran onto the property and appeared to find a grave. Inside, local police discovered Brueckner's dead dog, but underneath was a wallet containing six USB sticks and two memory cards.
The disturbing content prompted a full search involving 100 officers at the compound in Neuwegersleben, central Germany, which revealed stories written by Brueckner showing his obsession with abducting children.
In one, he describes drugging a mother and daughter outside a pre-school and abusing a blonde four-year-old girl.
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Madeleine McCann's parents Kate and Gerry, pictured making an appeal for information about their daughter at a press conference
GETTYA investigation by The Sun, set to be broadcast on Channel 4, has found that police also turfed up records of disturbing Skype chats with other paedophiles, where Brueckner stated he wanted to "capture something small and use it for days".
Further photographs show Brueckner at the Arade Dam, a key location just 35 miles from Praia da Luz where Madeleine disappeared.
In some images, he is seen modelling a mask and even posing naked at the site, which was searched in 2023.
A satnav found by officers revealed Brueckner's pattern of movements around the area in the years after Madeleine vanished.
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A hard drive found hidden at Brueckner's lair is said to be crucial in persuading investigators that Madeleine died shortly after her disappearance in May 2007
PAWhile the hard drive found hidden at Brueckner's abandoned lair - now in police posession - is said to be crucial in persuading investigators that Madeleine died shortly after her disappearance in May 2007.
Officers also tracked down an insurance claim signed by Brueckner, showing he had a crash at a festival where he allegedly told a friend, Helge B, that Madeleine "did not scream".
The document proves Brueckner was at the festival in Orgiva, Spain in April 2008.
Helge B has in court said Brueckner made this incriminating statement - but questions about his credibility have been raised.
