MADELEINE McCann suspect Christian Brueckner says he has information to end the “scandal of the century”.

The newly-freed rapist, 49, hinted of a dark secret as he shopped for a phone.

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Christian Brueckner said he could solve one of the ‘greatest mysteries ever’ as he shopped for a phoneCredit: Dan Charity

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The freed sex offender plonked his foot on a phone shop counter to show off his ankle tag at one pointCredit: Dan Charity

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The paedophile told staff he’d ‘not last long’ — because he holds dirt on people who want him killedCredit: Dan Charity
His claims raise the prospect he withheld knowledge on the disappearance of Madeleine in Portugal in 2007 despite being in police sights for more than five years.

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It comes as…

German cops are on high alert after Brueckner tried to buy an untraceable mobile phone — while carrying an ID card that could allow him to flee his home country
Brueckner plonked his leg on a phone shop counter showing off his electronic ankle tag and bragged “look, I’m under control” in shocking CCTV
Senior Reporter Robert Pattinson said Brueckner’s release confirmed his worst fear – the suspect is more dangerous now than ever

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The paedophile, 49, freed last week at the end of an unrelated rape term, also told staff he’ll “not last long” — because he holds dirt on people who want him killed.

His phone buy has sparked fears he could try to flee his home country.

Shop manager Farouk Salah-Brahmin, 32, 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 case while in prison, or engage with police.

It sounded to me like he was part of something wider. Something he clearly had knowledge of. Some network or something maybe

Farouk

Farouk added of their 90-minute chat: “The way he said it he must have been talking about the Madeleine McCann case. What else could he be talking about?

“It sounded to me like he was part of something wider. Something he clearly had knowledge of. Some network or something maybe.

“I thought maybe he knows other people who were involved — but it’s clear he knows far more than he had been telling the police.

“That struck me as weird — that he said he had knowledge of this but hadn’t told police. I don’t understand why he would do that.”

Christian Brueckner filmed gleefully showing-off his ankle tag and bragging ‘look, I’m under control’
Shop CCTV captured Brueckner spending £90 on a Xiaomi Redmi Android phone and buying a SIM after producing his ID card.

Farouk revealed the fiend also claimed his life was in danger.

‘Want to make him cold’

The shop boss said: “He told me that he has special information about some people, and that’s why they want to finish him.

“I don’t know if it is linked to all the USB sticks and information they found at his lair.

“Brueckner told me there are some people out there who ‘want to make him cold’.

“He told me, ‘I won’t do long here — maybe someone will murder me.’ He made it sound like there were people from his past — maybe from when he was a paedophile.

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Christian was freed last week at the end of an unrelated rape sentence

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Shop manager Farouk Salah-Brahmin said: ‘Brueckner told me he had some information’Credit: Dan Charity
“Maybe he had clients who are worried about being revealed. He was a client of someone famous? I don’t know.”

Brueckner then showed off the monitoring tag.

Farouk added: “He said, ‘Look, I’m under control’ then started laughing. It was weird. He clearly finds it funny and he thinks it’s unfair.

I had no idea he was in my town before he walked in. I thought what does he want here in this area?

Farouk

“He told me his case is finished, the prison is finished and we have the GPS. He clearly wants to get on with people, win their confidence.

“But to find funny a tag you have to wear — because you are so dangerous — is crazy.”

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Brueckner enjoying a McDonald’s following his releaseCredit: BILD Fotoservice
Brueckner spent a long time in the shop because he needed help setting up his phone and WhatsApp account.

At one point he left the shop to buy a kebab — a day after he was seen gobbling a McDonald’s.

‘Injustice’

Farouk said it was clear he was the first “real person” Brueckner had spoken to since his release.

Farouk said: “I had no idea he was in my town before he walked in. I thought, ‘What does he want here in this area?’ He was just carrying a backpack and a load of supermarket shopping bags.

“I admit I was afraid. It’s a dangerous guy, and I had to be careful and keep a distance. He was directly in front of me. No space, no barrier. There he was, Christian Brueckner.

“He claimed everything that happened to him was an injustice.

My colleague recognised him straight away, it was Christian Brueckner wearing a long fake beard. It was stupid. It was obviously still him

Shop worker

“He said he had nothing to do with the things he has been convicted of and accused of.

“I said to him, ‘They found your DNA in one victim’s bed’. And he told me, ‘Yes, but also 14 other DNA’. He said it wasn’t him.

He said all the claims against him had been invented.”

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Madeleine McCann went missing on the May 3, 2007Credit: AFP

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Brueckner was released last week after finishing a seven-year term for the 2005 rape and torture of an American womanCredit: Dan Charity
Farouk added: “I don’t know what he’s really like. Maybe he’s playing a role, being someone he isn’t. Maybe he was lying to me. I think he has been telling people for so long he is innocent he has started to believe it.

“He speaks to you so directly and without any shame so you might believe him. I think he believes what he’s saying. But it’s not true.”

SMIRK OVER COP DONATION

By Rob Pattinson

EVIL Brueckner laughed and smirked over the German FBI agent working on his case who had paid for his early release.

Shop manager Farouk said Brueckner had read The Sun exclusive earlier this month about Rebecca K covering a £1,300 court fine he owed.

Farouk said: “Brueckner told me he saw the interview and that was the first time he’d ever seen her. He said he had never heard of this woman before.

“He said it was unbelievable, a surprise she’d paid.

“He laughed like he found it funny but it felt to me he had some more information — that he knew more about her payment than he was saying.”

Rebecca K, 39, said she felt sorry for the fiend and felt his rights were being violated.

She was part of the covert team monitoring Brueckner before a row with colleagues saw her career fizzle out.

Meanwhile, a Domino’s pizza worker said Brueckner had been into their branch twice in two days — disguised in a fake beard.

The worker said: “This guy came in and asked if we had any free pizza. He said he had just got out of jail and he was hungry.

“My colleague recognised him straight away, it was Christian Brueckner wearing a long fake beard. It was stupid. It was obviously still him.”

Brueckner has been seen twice at different kebab shops, and partying at a nightclub 48 hours after being freed from JVA Sehnde prison, near Hanover.

He was released last Wednesday after finishing a seven-year term for the 2005 rape and torture of an American woman, 72, in Portugal’s Praia da Luz — the same village Madeleine disappeared from.

While he remains German cops’ prime suspect over Madeleine’s disappearance and murder, no arrest warrants exist, so there is nothing to keep him behind bars.

Investigators say they have physical evidence Madeleine is dead but no forensic proof tying Brueckner to the case.

Police have confirmed his phone was near Ocean Club at the time when the McCanns were staying.

Witness Helge Busching claims a year later Brueckner confessed to him at a music festival, in Spain, saying “she didn’t scream”, as the pair discussed Madeleine.

Overwhelming evidence

An exclusive Sun investigation aired as a Channel 4 documentary in May revealed cops are in ­possession of images that help ­contribute to their understanding Madeleine is dead.

They also seized stories where Brueckner daydreams about snatching and abusing girls.

Despite the overwhelming evidence, investigators have been reluctant to charge over the case, fearing the lack of forensic proof would harm their chances.

They were also spooked by a court last year clearing Brueckner of other rape and sex assaults — an acquittal which put him on the path to freedom.

Since it became clear that Brueckner would be released this month, Met cops have significantly stepped up their activity on the case.

Last week we told how British detectives secretly flew to Portugal to re-interview as witnesses a German couple he once stayed with.

It also emerged last week that investigators take seriously the prospect Madeleine was snatched to order by human traffickers, potentially with links to Belgium.

Brueckner’s lawyers continue to protest his innocence on all matters.

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The beast has been seen twice at different kebab shops, and partying at a nightclub 48 hours after being freed from prisonCredit: AFP

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Christian denies involvement in Maddie’s disappearanceCredit: Handout

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Maddie’s parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, have been searching for answers over her disappearance since 2007

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The apartment complex that Maddie disappeared from in Praia Da Luz, Portugal