Third Day of Intense Search for Madeleine McCann in Portugal: What You Need to Know

Search efforts for Madeleine McCann are set to begin again near Praia da Luz, Portugal, where she vanished 18 years ago. German and Portuguese authorities have a tight deadline, as they can search until Friday for any evidence related to her disappearance.

The area being investigated covers about 21 square kilometers, close to where her prime suspect, Christian Brückner, was staying at the time. Brückner, now 48, is in a German prison for another crime but could be released soon.

Madeleine, just three years old, disappeared while on holiday with her family in May 2007. Her case has captured attention worldwide, making it one of the most well-known missing persons stories ever. Initially, the Portuguese police led the investigation, with help from the Metropolitan Police. However, in 2020, German police took over after identifying Brückner as a suspect.

Brückner, who spent significant time in Portugal from 2000 to 2017, is suspected of murder, though UK authorities still qualify the case as a missing persons investigation. He denies involvement, and no charges have been filed against him regarding Madeleine’s case.

Recently, Portuguese prosecutors approved a European warrant, allowing German teams to search specific private areas. Diggers and specialist tools have been brought in to search through scrubland and abandoned buildings. Previous searches took place near Barragem do Arade reservoir last year because Brückner had photos from that location.

On the night Madeleine disappeared, her parents were dining with friends, leaving her and her younger siblings asleep. Last month, on the 18th anniversary of her disappearance, Kate and Gerry McCann expressed their unwavering determination to find her, although they refrained from commenting during this active stage of the police investigation.

The ongoing effort shows the enduring hope of finding answers. According to a recent survey, nearly 85% of respondents in the UK believe that the case should continue to be investigated.

For more on this ongoing investigation and to understand its background better, you can read more on BBC.

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