The prime suspect in the Madeleine McCann case had a burglary tool kit that “can pick any lock”, a witness has claimed. Helge B’s allegations against Christian B cast fresh doubt over the official theory that the then-three-year-old was kidnapped by someone who climbed through the window of her family’s holiday apartment in Portugal 16 years ago. The 52-year-old, a petty criminal himself, told The Sun on Sunday he took the kit from the Algarve home of Christian B, who was in prison for theft at that time. He said: “I knew from Christian that he uses tools to break into holiday resorts, hotels and holiday homes to steal from tourists. “There were passports on the table. There was all sorts of stuff lying around — cameras, suitcases, everything that tourists have with them. I also found a lock pick set. “You can use it to pick any lock, including security locks.” Helge B, who is now in witness protection, said he informed German police about the kit, which includes 14 black stainless steal picks designed for different door types, according to The Sun on Sunday. A police source told the newspaper: “The German detectives were electrified by the discovery of the tool kit with the lock picks in it. This evidence is now very important to them. “It confirmed a suspicion that they’d had for a long time — that Christian B entered the apartment through the door.” When asked how Christian B could have entered the McCanns’ holiday apartment, Helge B suggested: “Through the door. Easily. He can open any door.” The development has led detectives to conclude the window theory could be a “red herring”, according to insiders close to the German police probe, reported The Sun on Sunday. It is understood police are also investigating the possibility Christian B used car paint to sedate Maddie after being told he had access to the solvent because he had been a mechanic. Reports the metal window shutters were rolled up and a curtain was blowing in the apartment after Maddie went missing could be explained by the theory her kidnapper did so to avoid inhaling toxic fumes. Helge B did recently allege to the German outlet Bild that Christian B let slip Maddie “didn’t scream” when she was kidnapped. The pair crossed paths at a music festival in Spain in 2008, Helge B said, when the topic of Maddie’s disappearance “came up and I said: ‘Anyway, I don’t understand how the little one could have disappeared without a trace.’ “Christian had drunk two or three beers, and he said: ‘She didn’t scream.’” In what has been described as the “most heavily reported missing person case in modern history”, Madeleine disappeared in May 2007 while staying with her parents at a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz. Her parents, Gerry and Kate McCann, had been dining with their friends at a restaurant 55 metres away when they discovered she was missing during a routine check at 10pm. The case has remained unsolved for 16 years with no body discovered, however German prosecutors have stated their belief that she was killed. Brueckner was identified as the primary suspect in 2020, with authorities conducting a major search of a remote Algarve reservoir in May as part of their investigation. It is believed that the jailed paedophile had regularly visited the mile-long peninsula and had described it as a “little slice of paradise” when living near the Praia da Luz resort. Brueckner has previous convictions for child sexual abuse, drug trafficking and is currently serving a prison sentence in Germany for raping a 72-year-old pensioner. Read More Madeleine McCann news – latest: Prime suspect’s friend claims Scotland Yard ‘ignored crucial information’ Madeleine McCann suspect ‘said she didn’t scream’ when kidnapped, friend claims in explosive interview Madeleine McCann case: Timeline of the missing child’s disappearance Madeleine McCann news: Suspect’s friend claims Scotland Yard ‘ignored information’ AP News Digest 2 p.m. Ukraine is ‘preparing for nuclear explosion at Zaporizhzhia’ MP warns - live

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Luton Town play Coventry City in the Championship play-off final at Wembley for a place in the Premier League. Both clubs were in League Two as recently as 2018 and are looking to complete remarkable journeys with promotion to the top-flight, in what is often known as football’s “richest game”. Luton were a non-league club just nine years ago but their incredible rise through the divisions means they are just 90 minutes away from hosting the likes of Man City, Arsenal and Manchester United at Kenilworth Road next season. But Coventry’s story is just as compelling - under Mark Robins they have battled back from the brink and are now on the verge of returning to the Premier League for the first time since 2001. Only one team can make it on what is set to be a thrilling afternoon at Wembley. Follow live updates as Luton face Coventry in the Championship play-off final. Read More Of course the play-off final is about money – but Coventry and Luton also represent something greater How much do Championship play-off final winners earn?

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Archaeologists are terrified to open the tomb of Qin Shi Huang, China's first emperor who has been buried for 2,200 years. The tomb of Qin Shu Huang, who ruled from 221 BC to 210 BC, is guarded by a terracotta army of soldiers and horses. The discovery was found by farmers back in 1974 in the Shaanxi province of China. While archaeologists explored the area, they have never opened the tomb itself – and within good reason. According to IFL Science, not only do archaeologists believe it will cause damage, but there are rumours of deathly booby traps that could kill curious intruders. Writings by Chinese historian Sima Qian 100 years after Qin Shu Huang's death claim "Palaces and scenic towers for a hundred officials were constructed and the tomb was filled with rare artifacts and wonderful treasure." He continued: "Craftsmen were ordered to make crossbows and arrows primed to shoot at anyone who enters the tomb. Mercury was used to simulate the hundred rivers, the Yangtze and Yellow River, and the great sea, and set to flow mechanically." Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Even if those alleged crossbows failed thousands of years later, there are still fears of liquid mercury seeping through the cracks. "Highly volatile mercury may be escaping through cracks, which developed in the structure over time, and our investigation supports ancient chronicle records on the tomb, which is believed never to have been opened/looted," one 2020 paper suggests, as per the publication. Scientists have reportedly toyed with the idea of using non-invasive techniques to open the tomb, however, they have not yet come to fruition. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

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