Portuguese and German police have launched a new search in the Algarve region of Portugal as part of the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. The search, which began on June 2 and will run until June 6, will focus on the municipality of Lagos, near Praia da Luz, where Madeleine went missing nearly 18 years ago.
Madeleine, then three years old, vanished from an apartment complex on May 3, 2007, while on holiday with her family. Her disappearance sparked a massive police investigation, and the case remains one of the most high-profile unsolved missing person cases globally.
German investigators have identified Christian Brückner, currently serving a prison sentence in Germany for a separate crime, as their prime suspect. Brückner has denied any involvement, and although German authorities suspect him of murder, they have not found sufficient evidence to bring charges.
The new search is being carried out under warrants issued by German prosecutors, with Portuguese police providing support. Any evidence seized during the search will be handed over to German authorities.
Madeleine’s parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, marked the 18th anniversary of her disappearance last month, reiterating their determination to leave no stone unturned in the search for their daughter. The Metropolitan Police continues its investigation, known as Operation Grange, which began in 2011.
The search will focus on areas between the Ocean Club resort, where the McCann family stayed, and Brückner’s former residence. This development comes after a previous search in 2023 focused on a remote dam near the area where Madeleine was last seen.
