
Area of vegetation with abandoned buildings scoured and well is drained as part of renewed search for Madeleine McCann
Site near Praia da Luz in Portugal has abandoned buildings close by
©Press Association
Search teams have been seen draining a well and clearing areas of dense vegetation near abandoned buildings as the latest search for Madeleine McCann continues in Portugal.
German investigators along with Portuguese police officers and firefighters are working in a little-developed area of countryside a few kilometres from Praia da Luz, where Madeleine was last seen in 2007.

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The Irish Sun
7 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
I'm terrified Maddie suspect Christian Brueckner will hunt me down after he's freed from prison, says rape survivor
RAPE survivor Hazel Behan fears Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner will 'hunt me down' after his prison release. Brueckner, 47, is due to be 4 Rape survivor Hazel Behan tells her story Credit: Dan Charity 4 Convicted paedophile Christian Brueckner is due to be freed from a German jail in September Credit: Paul Edwards 4 Officers travelled to Germany for a search of derelict farms in Praia da Luz Credit: Dan Charity And Hazel, who has waived her right to anonymity, said: 'His sentence may be ending but mine never did. I have lived with fear every day for 21 years. "Fear that I'll see him. Fear that he'll find out where I live and hunt me down. I also have fear that he'll do to someone else what he did to me. 'I've called him out in a public forum and I have genuine concern he could confront me. "I wouldn't put anything past a person like him. If he is released, I will worry for every woman and child who, like me, believes the justice system is protecting them. "A leopard doesn't change his spots.' His expected release from his current conviction comes a month before Hazel will discover the outcome of her High Court appeal in Although Judge Uta Engemann described the Dublin woman as a 'credible witness' and said 'we have no doubt something bad happened to her', she added there was not enough evidence to Hazel went on: 'I am a survivor of sexual assault and rape — a title I never asked for, but one I have carried with me every day for almost 21 years. "If he is released in September, he can go anywhere he wants. The police can only get involved in protecting me if he comes into my garden. Madeleine McCann cops call off search as trawl of Brueckner's 'rat run' turns up nothing 'I think of every survivor who never got to speak, and every woman who might become the next me. "The system may be ready to let him go, but I'm not. And neither is the wider society that deserves to feel safe.' The 41-year-old added: 'I have no doubt this predator is capable of anything "Age doesn't matter to him. It is about power and control for him and this won't have changed once he is out of prison. 'He has drifted across many countries over the years and targeted women and children of all ages. What's to stop him coming to Ireland and coming after me again? 'There have been reports he had plastic surgery and although his appearance is known, he could easily live underground and adapt a new identity and appearance. 'He is part of a world where people know how to stay hidden before they commit horrific levels of violence against women and kids.' Authorities in 4 Three-year-old Madeleine McCann disappeared in 2007 Credit: PA Last week, officers travelled to Germany for a Despite his denial of any involvement, cops carried out the extensive hunt in the hope of finding a shred of evidence to link him to Madeleine — and to keep him behind bars. Hazel hopes if And she said: 'It took the German BKA to restore my faith in the police as my experience with the Portuguese was horrendous, to put it mildly. 'I believe the BKA are doing a stellar job and working very hard to bring justice to those believed to be victims of Christian B.' Former holiday rep Hazel also spoke of her ongoing trauma, adding: 'On the 16th of June 2004, 21 years ago, my life changed forever. Face behind the mask 'The man who raped me took more than my sense of safety — he murdered my spirit and crushed my soul. He destroyed all the little parts of me that made me, me. 'He took my trust, my voice, and for a long time, my ability to live freely in the world. 'Since then, I have worked tirelessly to reclaim those pieces of myself. But no matter how much therapy I go through, how much time passes, some scars don't fade.' Hazel also expressed her sympathy and support for the Leicestershire-based family of Madeleine. She said: ' As a parent, I cannot begin to imagine what they have gone through and continue to go through every day for the past 18 years.' On her fight for justice, she said: 'On the 3rd of June 2020, following 16 years of getting to know this 'new me', I was once again thrown back to 2004 — only this time, I was made aware of the face behind the mask. Facing the man I believed completely destroyed my life in court is one of the most difficult things I have willingly ever had to do. Hazel Behan "I grappled with whether I had the mental strength to highlight myself to the relevant authorities as a potential victim, but I knew, deep down, if I didn't, I would always regret it. 'The following four years were unimaginably tough for me and my family and nothing could have prepared me for what lay ahead. "Facing the man I believed completely destroyed my life in court is one of the most difficult things I have willingly ever had to do.' She has also taken a case to the European Court of Human Rights over what her lawyer called the 'systematic and inexcusable failings by the Portuguese authorities that has denied her, and others, justice'. FIEND 'CASH-IN' SEX beast Christian Brueckner is said to be preparing to 'cash in' on his infamy by signing up for TV and book deals when he is released. The rapist and paedophile is set to be released from jail in September. Sources in Germany claim he will be desperate for money once out — and will face no shortage of offers to make money from his notoriety. One said: 'Brueckner is awaited by many members of the media and could be paid well for going onto talk shows, which will offer him a platform to tell his version of the 'injustice' done to him.' He has already maintained his innocence in interviews from jail, also telling German broadcaster RTL of his cravings for steak and beer.


The Irish Sun
14 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Brit tourist, 21, found dead on street in popular Algarve party resort as cops launch investigation
A BRIT tourist has been found dead in the Portuguese party resort of Albufeira. The 21-year-old man's body was discovered at the bottom of a set of steps in the old town of the Algarve holiday resort. Advertisement 1 The town of Albufeira is popular with Brit tourists Credit: Getty The alarm was raised just before 7am on Wednesday, An autopsy has already taken place but results have not been made public. It's understood Portuguese cops are not treating the death as suspicious. Police have not said whether the Brit was staying at a hotel in Albufeira. Advertisement Read more world news On Wednesday the body of a Scottish tourist who had been missing for seven days after vanishing during a night out in Albufeira was found. He is thought to have jumped over a wall and fallen down a steep cliff after becoming disorientated as he tried to head back to his holiday hotel. The plant mechanic was found by police at the bottom of a ravine. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Exclusive Exclusive Sister Jillian Monks, 36, told the after he vanished from the party hotspot. More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Advertisement Like us on Facebook at


Irish Independent
19 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Madeleine McCann suspect ‘told police decisive questions can never be answered'
©Press Association The prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann sent a letter to police saying 'decisive questions can never be answered', according to reports. Christian Brueckner, who is in prison for raping a 72-year-old woman in Praia da Luz in 2005, reportedly sent a letter to officers saying questions which would implicate him in the case of the three-year-old British girl, who vanished from the same resort 18 years ago, cannot be answered.