Christian Brueckner allegedly boasted about being able to solve ‘the scandal of the century’ as he shopped for an untraceable phone after being seen wearing a fake beard to buy food.

The German paedophile, who is the chief suspect in Madeleine McCann‘s disappearance, was released last week at the end of an unrelated rape term.

He allegedly told staff inside a phone shop that he could solve one of the ‘greatest mysteries ever’ as she browsed the electronics, The Sun newspaper reported.

The claims spark concerns he has knowledge of what happened to Madeleine in Portugal in 2007, when she vanished from her bed in a holiday apartment aged three.

Shop manager Farouk Salah-Brahmin, 32, reportedly said: ‘Brueckner told me he had some information.

‘I don’t know if it’s the McCann case but he said he had evidence that could bring the scandal of the century to an end.

‘He said he would end all the accusations against him. He said he can bring his own solution. He said something about USB sticks.’

Brueckner had refused to answer any questions on the little girl’s disappearance while in jail, or cooperate with police.

Christian Brueckner (pictured) allegedly boasted about being able to solve 'the scandal of the century' as he shopped for a £90 phone
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Christian Brueckner (pictured) allegedly boasted about being able to solve ‘the scandal of the century’ as he shopped for a £90 phone

Madeleine McCann (pictured) disappeared in Portugal in 2007, when she vanished from her bed in a holiday apartment aged three
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Madeleine McCann (pictured) disappeared in Portugal in 2007, when she vanished from her bed in a holiday apartment aged three

Meanwhile, the paedophile is also said to have been wandering around with a fake beard after his release from jail.

A pizza worker reportedly told how his identity was clear when he entered their takeaway shop at around 9pm on Friday.

They told the Mirror: ‘He was wearing a false beard but was still recognisable.

‘It was long and made of some kind of synthetic material. I don’t know exactly what material it was made of but it wasn’t hair.’

In 2020, Brueckner was named as Madeleine’s prime suspect, with his VW camper van seized by Portuguese officials the year before.

The sex offender has maintained he was not involved in Madeleine’s disappearance and no charges relating to the toddler have been lodged against him.

Last week, the paedophile declared himself homeless and has been staying in emergency accommodation in Neumunster, 40 miles north of Hamburg.

Brueckner’s lawyer also sensationally admitted he understood ‘concerns’ over his client’s sickening child sex and rape convictions.