THE gun found during the search for Madeleine McCann has been revealed as a 6.35 calibre, well-placed sources said today.
Further details emerged hours after German prosecutors praised Portuguese police for their work looking around the scrubland in Praia da Luz last week.
The type of gun discovered during the three-day search operation last week near Brueckner’s former ramshackle cottage home close to the Algarve resort where Madeleine vanished on May 3 2007, has not yet been revealed.
Typically 6.35 calibre guns are small, pocket-sized, semi-automatic pistols used for self-defence or fun target shooting, but can be airguns.
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Portuguese daily Correio da Manha reported yesterday it was unlikely to be a “lethal weapon” although tests are understood to be ongoing.
It has not yet been ruled out as a potential game-changer in the ‘race against time’ to charge Brueckner over Madeleine’s disappearance before he finishes the seven-year prison sentence he is currently serving for the 2005 rape of an American OAP.
Another gun said to have been found during last week’s searches has been ruled out. It is believed to be more than 50 years old and has been described by Portuguese sources as a “rusting relic.”
The same well-placed sources confirmed yesterday forensic analysis of fragments of bones and adult clothing also unearthed last week would take place at a specialist police lab in Lisbon and not in Germany as initially reported.
No samples of any kind have been sent back to Germany despite reports to the contrary, the insiders said.
German forensic officers have been offered the opportunity of being present at the tests, although it was unclear today if they had accepted the invite.
They were shown some of the bones that were unearthed, thought to be animal bones, in a video-conferencing session but are said to have been “unable to come to any real conclusions about exactly what they were” via the screen.
German prosecutors said yesterday in their only official statement so far since wells, ruins and water tanks across a 120-acre area in Atalaia between the Algarve towns of Praia and Luz and Lagos were inspected: “The search operation conducted in Portugal last week has been completed as planned.
“No information can be provided at this time regarding the results of the investigation.
“Our sincere thanks go to all police officers involved in the search.
“The co-operation between the Portuguese police and the Federal Criminal Police Office was excellent and very constructive.
“We don’t want to say anymore at the moment.”
