I think he sold Maddie

Brueckner was always on the dark web and he’d talk about selling kids. In late May 2007 he turned up in an expensive van. I wondered at the time where he had got the money...

- MARTIN FRICKER and JON CLARKE

THE best friend of Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner dramatically claimed last night: “I know he did it.”

Michael Tatschl lived with the German paedophile in Praia da Luz, where Madeleine vanished. He said: “He was a pervert and more than capable of snatching a child for sexual kicks or money.”

We can reveal that Austrian drifter Mr Tatschl was grilled last year by German and Austrian police investigating Madeleine’s disappearance. He reportedly told them how his pal bragged about burgling rich tourists’ holiday apartments.

Mr Tatschl, 46, claimed that Brueckner, 43, also boasted about “selling kids” – although there as been no evidence found of this so far – and he fears Madeleine was sold to a sex ring. He claimed: “He was always bragging about money and making money. He even talked about selling kids, maybe to Morocco.

“I think he probably sold Maddie to someone. Maybe a sex ring. I was living with him at the time. He was my best friend. I know he did it.”

Mr Tatschl claimed that Brueckner was obsessed with the dark web and suspects he used it to deal in pornography and drugs. He also claimed Brueckner had a secret spot in his home in Praia da Lux where he kept stolen loot.

Mr Tatschl’s name emerged last week after Portuguese authorities granted access to Brueckner’s court records. They showed Brueckner was locked up on remand with Mr Tatschl after they were caught stealing diesel from lorries. Mr Tatschl, a dad of one who is now back in his native Austria, said he expects an arrest is “imminent” in Madeleine’s case. In his first ever media interview, he described Brueckner as a “strange character”.