Madeleine disappeared in 2007 while on holiday with her family in the resort of Praia da Luz after her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, who is from Glasgow, went out to dinner and left her sleeping in a room with her toddler twin siblings.
She was three years old at the time.
(Image: Image of Madeleine McCann) Last month Madeleine’s family marked the 18th anniversary of her disappearance, describing her as “beautiful and unique” before her 22nd birthday, and expressing their determination to keep searching.
A statement from her parents Kate and Gerry McCann and the family said: “The years appear to be passing even more quickly and whilst we have no significant news to share, our determination to ‘leave no stone unturned’ is unwavering. We will do our utmost to achieve this.”
(Image: Image of Madeleine McCann’s parents) It has now been reported that further searches are to be carried out this week near where she was last seen.
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It comes after a fresh search was launched in Portugal back in 2023.
Four teams of officers from the Portuguese Policia Judiciaria were involved in the operation, along with at least 20 of their German counterparts.
German authorities said they are currently receiving support from Portuguese law enforcement ahead of the new search.
The Portuguese police said that searches will be carried out between June 2 and 6 in the municipality of Lagos, in accordance with a European investigation order. Any evidence seized by the Policia Judiciaria will be passed to the German federal police.
(Image: Image of Madeleine McCann) The prime suspect in the case is Christian Brueckner, who is currently serving a seven-year prison sentence in Germany for the rape of an elderly woman at her home in Praia da Luz in 2005.
Brueckner, who spent time in the area between 2000 and 2017, had photographs and videos of himself near the reservoir. He has denied any involvement in Madeleine’s disappearance.
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A spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Police said: “We are aware of the searches being carried by the BKA (German federal police) in Portugal as part of their investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.
“The Metropolitan Police Service is not present at the search, we will support our international colleagues where necessary.”
In April, ministers approved more than £100,000 in additional funding for Scotland Yard detectives investigating Madeleine’s disappearance.
