Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brückner freed from German prison

Christian Brückner has never been charged with any crime in relation to the McCann case.

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Christian Brückner was driven out in a black Audi by his lawyer with a police escort shortly after 09:00 local time (07:00 GMT). Brückner wasn't visible in the car but police confirmed he had left Sehnde prison.

He had been convicted of raping a 72-year-old American woman in Portugal in 2005, and will be fitted with an ankle tag after his release from the prison near the northern city of Hanover.

The German national, 48, has never been charged with any crime in relation to the McCann case. He denies any involvement.

Local police spokesman Lars Dehnert told the BBC: "We said before that we wanted this to happen as smoothly as possible", adding that Brückner would be escorted for a short distance.