What do we know about the suspect in the Madeleine McCann disappearance?

A German sex offender is the new suspect in the Madeleine McCann case.

The suspect, named as Christian B by German media, is currently serving a prison sentence for a sex crime and has two previous convictions for “sexual contact with girls”.

Madeline went missing shortly before her fourth birthday from a Portuguese holiday resort on the Algarve coast on the evening of 3 May 2007.

Here is what we know about the suspect in the case:

Madeleine McCann went missing from a Portuguese holiday resort in 2007. Credit: PA

  • Christian Hoppe, from Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), told the country’s ZDF television channel that he is currently serving a prison sentence for a sex crime and has two previous convictions for “sexual contact with girls”.

  • Christian B is a German national, aged 43, but at the time Madeleine vanished on May 3, 2007, he was 30 years old and may have looked between 25 to early 30s.

  • He is known to have frequented the Praia da Luz area between 1995 and 2007, with some short spells in Germany.

  • The suspect is described as having a “transient lifestyle”, living in his camper van for days at a time.

This 1993 Jaguar XJR6 has been linked to the suspect. Credit: PA

  • An appeal on German Crimewatch-style programme XY said he is thought to have worked odd jobs, including as a waiter, but also committed burglaries in hotels and holiday resorts and dealt drugs.

  • It said also said he was linked to two houses in Portugal – one between Praia da Luz and Lagos, and a second inland.

  • At the time of Madeleine’s disappearance, he had access to a distinctive VW T3 Westfalia camper van, from at least April 2007 until sometime after May 2007, which was used in and around the area of Praia da Luz. It is an early 1980s model, with two tone markings, a white upper body and a yellow skirting, with a Portuguese registration plate.

A VW T3 Westfalia campervan has also been linked to the suspect. Credit: PA

  • Detectives believe he was living in the van for days, possibly weeks, and may have been using it on May 3 2007.

  • The suspect has also been linked to a 1993 British Jaguar, model XJR 6, with a German number plate and registered in Germany, which is believed to have been in the Praia da Luz and surrounding areas in 2006 and 2007.

  • The car was originally registered in the suspect’s name but was re-registered to someone else in Germany the day after Madeleine’s disappearance, although the vehicle is believed to have still been in Portugal.

  • The suspect is believed to have been using a Portuguese mobile phone, number +351 912 730 680, on the day Madeleine went missing.

  • The phone received a call, starting at 7.32pm and finishing at 8.02pm on May 3 2007 in the area of Praia da Luz from a second mobile number (+351 916 510 683) from a person not in the area.

  • German media name suspect as Christian B on June 4, 2020

The Operation Grange incident room can be contacted via 0207 321 9251 or operation.grange@met.police.uk.