Former cop Marc Verwilghen, who led the investigation into child-killer Marc Dutroux, has raised concerns that Madeleine McCann might have been abducted by a notorious paedophile network linked to Dutroux. Intelligence shared among European authorities before Madeleine’s disappearance in 2007 indicated that a trafficking gang was targeting a young child. Madeleine, aged three, went missing from a holiday apartment in Portugal just days after Belgian police received information about a paedophile ring seeking a girl.
Verwilghen mentioned similarities between Dutroux’s crimes and Madeleine’s case, suggesting that Madeleine could have been taken to order by a criminal organization. The investigation remains focused on prime suspect Christian Brueckner, who is set to be released soon despite concerns that he may evade questioning. German authorities suspect that Madeleine’s abduction involved an organized network rather than a lone perpetrator, but the attention remains on Brueckner.
Law enforcement sources express that they take the Belgian claims seriously and believe that whoever abducted Madeleine did not act alone. However, the current focus remains on Brueckner, and there are worries that his release without monitoring could hinder the investigation. British detectives have sought an interview with Brueckner, which he has declined, leading the authorities to explore other leads diligently.