Eighteen years after Madeleine McCann vanished from a holiday apartment in Portugal, police are back on the ground searching for answers. This week, authorities started a new operation in the Lagos region of the Algarve, not far from where the then-three-year-old was last seen in May 2007.
What prompted the new search in the Madeleine McCann case?
The renewed search comes after a formal request from German prosecutors, who are investigating Christian Brueckner, a German national currently serving a prison sentence for unrelated crimes. Brueckner was named as an official suspect in Madeleine’s disappearance in 2022, but he has not been charged in connection with the case and continues to deny any involvement.
Portuguese police confirmed that they are carrying out “a wide range of investigations, namely search warrants” in the Lagos area, which includes Praia da Luz — the resort town where Madeleine disappeared, per 9News. The operation is running from Monday to Friday this week, with all evidence found to be handed over to Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA).
Where are police searching for Madeleine McCann?
The focus is on a patch of land between Praia da Luz and one of the homes where Brueckner lived around the time Madeleine went missing. This location is significant because it’s close to where Madeleine was last seen, and it’s hoped that new evidence might finally shed light on what happened to her.
Who’s involved?
The search is a joint effort between Portuguese police, German authorities, and, to a lesser extent, British police.
London’s Metropolitan Police said in a statement to CNN: “[We are] aware of the searches being carried by the BKA in Portugal as part of their investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. The MPS is not present at the search but will support our international colleagues where necessary.”
A long and difficult case
Madeleine’s disappearance sparked one of the most high-profile missing persons investigations in history. She was just days away from her fourth birthday when she vanished from her family’s holiday apartment while her parents dined at a nearby restaurant.
Despite years of searching, no charges have ever been laid against anyone in connection with her disappearance. The last major search in Portugal was in May 2023, when police combed an inland reservoir in the Algarve, but nothing was found.
What happens next?
The search is expected to continue until Friday, with any evidence found being sent to German authorities for further investigation. The McCann family and the public will be hoping for answers, but after 18 years, the case remains as heartbreaking and mysterious as ever.
For now, police are combing through the Algarve once again, hoping that this time, they might find the missing piece of the puzzle.
Lead image: 9News
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