Police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann are "optimistic" they're on the cusp of cracking the case.
According to The Sun, German prosecutors claim that they have new evidence against Christian B, a convicted rapist and the current prime suspect behind the disappearance of the girl in 2007.
Prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters told The Sun: "We have gathered new evidence that adds further to the case we are building against our main suspect. I'm afraid I cannot tell you what it is but it strengthens our work."
He continued by stating that he was unable to share the details of the new evidence at the present time, which he said was circumstantial and not forensic, and that prosecutors are still building their case against the German sex offender.
Wolters added: "We have always insisted that the man we identified as the main suspect is the man we believe committed the crime and we are not looking for anyone else. I am optimistic that we will solve this case."
In a previous interview with BBC News, Wolters, who works for the Braunschweig Public Prosecutor's Office, told the publication that he believes that Madeleine was killed, stating:
"We have evidence against the accused which leads us to believe that he really killed Madeleine. But this evidence is not strong enough at the moment to take him to court."
Madeleine vanished at the age of three on May 3, 2007, from her vacation apartment at a resort in Praia da Luz, in the Algarve region of Portugal, while her parents were at a restaurant with friends.
Her disappearance prompted a widespread search, and an international investigation from Portuguese, British and German police forces. Yet her ultimate whereabouts remain unknown.
Prime suspect Christian B is currently serving a prison sentence for the rape of a 72-year-old American woman back in 2004. He has been linked to the murder of German schoolgirl Peggy Knobloch, who disappeared on her way home from school in 2001.
Wolters' statement comes not long after Madeline's parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, took to the Find Madeleine campaign's Facebook page to share an image of her on May 12, 2021.
On her 18th birthday, Kate and Gerry McCann captioned the picture: "Happy 18th birthday Madeleine."
In a solemn post made several days prior to this, the McCanns wrote: "Every May is tough – a reminder of years passed, of years together lost, or stolen.
"This year it is particularly poignant as we should be celebrating Madeleine’s 18th birthday. Enough said.
"The Covid pandemic has made this year even more difficult for many reasons but thankfully the investigation to find Madeleine and her abductor has continued. We hang on to the hope, however small, that we will see Madeleine again."
They continued: "As we have said repeatedly, we need to know what has happened to our lovely daughter, no matter what. We are very grateful to the police for their continued efforts.
"We still receive so many positive words and good wishes despite the years that have gone by. It all helps and for that, we are truly grateful – thank you."
.jpg_W9LKMo?tr=h-184)
.jpg_yTEtN3?tr=h-184)