Authorities in Germany and Portugal have initiated a new land search in Portugal, focused on locating the remains of Madeleine McCann. The operation comes just months before the man identified as the prime suspect in her 2007 disappearance is due for release from prison.
The search area is reported to be between the resort of Praia da Luz, where the three-year-old British girl went missing, and a former residence of the suspect, Christian Brueckner. German investigators formally requested the operation, which received judicial approval in Portugal. The effort is expected to last up to three days unless significant discoveries are made.
Brueckner, currently imprisoned in Germany for a separate 2005 rape conviction in Portugal, has never been formally charged in connection with McCann’s case. With his scheduled release in September, authorities are reportedly working against the clock to gather sufficient evidence to potentially bring new charges and prevent his release.
A previous search was conducted in 2023 at the Arade Dam, an area once frequented by Brueckner, but it yielded no major breakthroughs. The Metropolitan Police in London confirmed awareness of the current operation and stated they would provide support to their international counterparts as needed.
The McCann family has sought answers for over 18 years since their daughter vanished during a family holiday. Investigators continue to pursue all available leads in one of the most high-profile missing persons cases in recent history.
