PA Media
Madeleine McCann went missing in 2007 during a family holiday in Portugal
Portuguese and German police have launched a new search in Portugal this week as part of an ongoing investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.
The search covers the city of Lagos, next to Praia Dalz, the Algarve town that went missing nearly 20 years ago.
Madeleine was 3 years old when she disappeared from her apartment on May 3, 2007 while on vacation with her family.
Her loss of life sparked a police investigation across Europe and became one of the most famous unresolved shortages in the world.
Portuguese police confirmed Monday that they were conducting a search between June 2 and 6 for warrants issued by German prosecutors.
German investigators have taken the lead in the case since identifying 48-year-old Christian Bruckner, now a leading suspect in 2020, currently in a German prison.
German authorities suspect he is murdered but have not found enough evidence to bring about the charges. Brückner repeatedly denied involvement.
He is currently serving a sentence in Germany in 2005 for raping a 72-year-old American tourist in Portugal.
German authorities told the BBC on Monday that “criminal lawsuits are currently underway in Portugal,” and that this is being carried out with the support of the Portuguese police.
Portuguese authorities have appointed Bruckner as the official suspect or “arguido.” They said they would hand over the evidence seized in the latest search to German authorities.
Meanwhile, Met Police said: “We know that Portugal’s BKA (German Federal Police) is searching as part of an investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.”
The search will be the first to be held in two years. Previous searches in 2023 focused on the Remote Dam, a 40-minute drive from where Madeleine was last seen.
Brückner, who spent time in the area between 2000 and 2017, was found to have photos and videos of himself near the reservoir.
Portuguese media reported Monday that the new search will focus on the area between the Ocean Club Holiday Resort, where the McCanns were staying, and the home where Bruckner lived.
Madeleine disappeared at night, and her parents had dinner with friends within walking distance of the restaurant while Madeleine and her young twin brothers were sleeping in their first floor apartment.
Her parents checked in throughout the evening until their mother Kate discovered Madeleine missing around 10pm.
German authorities continue to treat Bruckner as the main suspect. However, German prosecutors said earlier this year there was no “prospect” of charges against him related to Madeleine’s loss bear.
A 2022 German documentary found evidence that Bruckner occasionally worked as a handyman at the Ocean Club, but German prosecutors link his cell phone data and car sales to their lawsuit against him.
Last month, Madeleine’s parents celebrated her 18th anniversary of her loss, saying, “My resolve to not leave behind any stones that have been turned over is unshakable.”
Metropolitan Police are continuing their investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine, known as the ongoing grunge operation since 2011.
