World

Madeleine McCann: Police recover ‘number of’ items in Portuguese reservoir search

11 months ago
Madeleine McCann: Police recover 'number of' items in Portuguese reservoir search

Police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann said they recovered several items during last week’s search operation in a Portuguese reservoir.

The latest searches in Portugal were carried out after requests from German investigators.

In June 2020, German police said that they believed Madeleine was dead and that suspect Christian B was likely responsible.

Today German authorities said their investigation into the suspect would “continue for some time”.

Police continued investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann at a reservoir in Portugal, about 31 miles from where the British child went missing 16 years ago.
Image:
Last week’s search
Personnel at Barragem do Arade reservoir, in the Algave, Portugal, as searches continue as part of the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. The area is around 50km from Praia da Luz where Madeleine went missing in 2007. Picture date: Thursday May 25, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story POLICE Portugal. Photo credit should read: Yui Mok/PA Wire
Image:
Officers searching the reservoir last week

In an update, the Braunschweig Public Prosecutor’s Office said: “The search operation carried out last week in the area of the Arade reservoir in Portugal ended on Thursday after three days as planned.

“A previously precisely defined area along the reservoir was completely searched for possible evidence.

“A number of items were seized as part of the operation. These will be evaluated in the coming days and weeks.

“It is not yet possible to say whether some of the items are actually related to the Madeleine McCann case.”

The office also thanked police from the UK, Portugal and staff at Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office for “excellent and very constructive” cooperation.

“The investigations conducted here in Braunschweig against the 46-year-old suspect are expected to continue for some time,” the statement added, referring to Christian B.

Divers were seen entering the water and examining the surrounding scrubland in the three-day search that ended on 25 May.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Latest search ends in Portugal

The reservoir is located about 31 miles from where the British toddler went missing in Praia da Luz in the Algarve 16 years ago.

The area was previously searched in 2008 after Portuguese lawyer Marcos Aragao Correia paid for specialist divers to check the site.

Map
Drone footage shows the ongoing police search at a reservoir in the Algarve, Portugal, about 31 miles from where Madeleine McCann, a British toddler. went missing 16 years ago.
Image:
The Arade reservoir

Christian B is currently in prison for raping a 72-year-old woman in the same area of the Algarve region from where Madeleine went missing, but has not been charged with any crime related to the disappearance.

He has always denied any involvement.