As the search for Madeleine McCann enters its third day in Portugal, investigators are meticulously examining a large area linked to a prime suspect. With the case marking 18 years since her disappearance, authorities remain committed despite limited progress so far.
Search for Madeleine McCann Continues as Investigators Scour Algarve Area
Search for Madeleine McCann Continues as Investigators Scour Algarve Area
Efforts to find missing toddler Madeleine McCann resume in Portugal, approaching the third day with no major breakthroughs reported.
Investigators looking for Madeleine McCann, who disappeared in Portugal 18 years ago, continued their searching efforts on Thursday near Praia da Luz. The renewed search initiative, backed by German and Portuguese authorities, is focused on an area covering approximately 21 square kilometers (8.1 square miles). As of now, there has been no indication of significant evidence being uncovered by the teams.
The operation is particularly pressing, as the authorities have until Friday to gather any possible evidence regarding the case. Investigators are concentrating their efforts on a location between the spot where Madeleine vanished and the residence of Christian Brückner, a German man suspected in the disappearance. Brückner is currently incarcerated in Germany for an unrelated crime but could be released as soon as September.
The case of Maddie McCann remains one of the most publicized missing persons cases globally. She disappeared in May 2007 while on holiday with her family in the Algarve region. Initially, Portuguese police managed the investigation with the support of the Metropolitan Police, but German authorities took over in 2020 after identifying Brückner as a key suspect—a man known to have frequented the area from 2000 to 2017.
While the British police continue to treat the investigation as a missing persons case, German police suspect him of murder. Despite this, Brückner has denied any wrongdoing, and no legal charges have been filed against him regarding Madeleine's case.
To facilitate the search, which involves specialized teams using excavators and other advanced equipment, Portuguese prosecutors approved a European warrant, allowing German investigators to operate on private properties. Past investigations have also focused around the Barragem do Arade reservoir area, where investigators found photographic evidence linking Brückner to that location.
On the night of her disappearance, Madeleine was alone in her family's apartment alongside her younger twin siblings while her parents were dining nearby. Last month, on the 18th anniversary of her disappearance, Madeleine's parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, reaffirmed their commitment to pursuing the truth, although they did not comment on the ongoing police activities, as stated by the staff at the Find Madeleine Campaign.
