Sources close to the investigation confirmed that the gun has not yet been ruled out as relevant to the case. A second firearm found at the scene has already been dismissed as an unusable relic.

The search, led jointly by Portuguese and German authorities, also yielded clothing, animal bones, and other items, according to The Sun. Contrary to earlier reports, these materials have not been sent to Germany; they remain in Portugal pending forensic examination.

“A Portuguese team will first assess whether any of the findings are relevant to their investigation,” a police source told media. “Only then will the results be shared with German authorities. No physical samples have been removed from Portugal.”

German prosecutors described the joint operation as “excellent and very constructive,” as both countries continue to build their case against Brueckner before his scheduled release from prison