Ex-detective makes bombshell claim about new Madeleine McCann search
The new search will last three days, unless police find anything significant, and will use radar devices to scan 15ft down in Praia da Luz in a desperate attempt to find clues of what happened to Madeleine
A former British police detective has made a bombshell claim about the new search for Madeleine McCann.
The toddler went missing during a family holiday in the resort of Praia da Luz on the Algarve in Portugal on May 3 2007. Over the last 18 years there has been no positive sighting and no one has been charged with her abduction, but her parents have never given up hope
Fresh police searches are due to start today near the spot where Madeleine McCann was last seen. German police have requested the searches, expected to take place between Praia da Luz where the three-year-old vanished and a house near the holiday resort where principal suspect Christian Brueckner used to live.
A well-placed Portuguese source confirmed this week's operation was scheduled get underway tomorrow but said some preparation work may take place beforehand. He said: 'They will be land searches only. The main objective is to look for any signs of Madeleine's body.'
Former British Police detective Mark Williams-Thomas, who has worked on some of the world's most high profile missing persons cases, has given his take on the new searches for Madeleine McCann.
Taking to social media yestreday Mark wrote: "The police in Portugal are going to search for the German police - the areas surrounding where Christian B (CB) rented a small farm building . The search is looking for evidence of Madeleine McCann's body . I thoroughly investigated this whole area for my @paramountplus series and we filmed a lot of the area around . It was 10 months before Madeleine went missing that CB was last seen at that address . I cannot see any evidence being found."
The new search will last three days, unless police find anything significant, and will use radar devices to scan 15ft down in Praia da Luz in a desperate attempt to find clues of what happened to Madeleine. A well-placed Portuguese source said said: "They will be land searches only. The main objective is to look for any signs of Madeleine's body."
Detectives acting on a request from a German public prosecutor will carry out 'a broad range' of searches. At least 30 agents from Germany's BKA are involved in the search and are equipped with ground-penetrating radar that can scan 15ft down into the earth. They will be focusing on the area near a cottage used by the main suspect and nearby scrubland.
The last time police resumed searches in the case was in 2023, when detectives from the three countries took part in an operation searching near a dam and a reservoir about 50 kilometers (30 miles) from the Praia da Luz resort.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
22 minutes ago
- BBC News
Graham Saville inquest: Sergeant hit by train after officers were 'mislead'
A police officer was struck by a train after "misleading" information was given to officers trying to help a vulnerable man on a railway line, an inquest has Graham Saville was hit after he was deployed to the railway line near Newark, Nottinghamshire, on 24 August survived the impact but died in hospital five days later, a hearing at Nottingham's Council House was Wednesday, the inquest heard officers at the scene were informed Network Rail would be contacted to stop the train, but the call was delayed by five minutes before Sgt Saville was struck. The hearing was told two officers attending the call with Sgt Saville repeatedly told the police dispatcher that the distressed man, referred to in court as Patient C, was near the railway line and had threatened to walk in front of a contact was made with Network Rail to stop the train until 20 seconds before Sgt Saville was struck at 19:08 BST, coroner Laurinda Bower Bower said the two officers were told the police control room was "on to" National Rail and had them "ready to go in case" Patient C went on to the tracks, but "the phone had not been picked up". Jack Richardson, who was working as a Nottinghamshire Police dispatcher for the Newark area that evening, told the court the call to stop trains on the line "should have been made sooner".The coroner asked him if the reassurances given to the officers were "misleading", to which the witness replied: "It could be interpreted that way by the officers, yes".Ms Bower said to Mr Richardson: "It seems to me that there was a five minute delay in seeking to make contact with Network Rail, between officers saying he is looking like he [Patient C] is going to go on to the line... then five minutes lapsing before anyone picks up the phone to get on to Network Rail."It limits the time Network Rail has got to take any effective action."The witness said: "I was not aware that we should be calling Network Rail prior to that. It was my understanding that a call should be made when someone enters a rail network."Mr Richardson agreed it was "obvious" that it would take more than a few seconds to stop a train moving at a speed of up to added: "That call should have been made sooner. Given the new training that's been brought in, Network Rail should be advised, informed, as soon as there is a first mention of someone heading towards the railway network."The inquest had previously heard Patient C had called East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) to say he had overdosed on caffeine and he was was walking towards the railway line, near Hollowdyke Lane in Balderton, with the intention of harming hearing had been told Patient C had a history of "fighting with police" and Sgt Saville had attended because he was trained to use a hearing reporting by Dan Martin If you have been affected by the contents of the article, support is available through the BBC Action Line website.
The Independent
29 minutes ago
- The Independent
Police sergeant hit by train after ‘misleading' information given, inquest hears
A police sergeant was struck by a train after 'misleading' information was given to officers trying to help a vulnerable man on a railway line, an inquest has heard. Police officers were told Network Rail would be contacted to stop the train, but the call was delayed by five minutes before Graham Saville was fatally injured in Balderton, near Newark, Nottinghamshire, an inquest into the 46-year-old's death was told. Nottingham Coroner's Court heard that officers attending the incident with Sgt Saville repeatedly told the police dispatcher that the distressed man, referred to in court as Patient C, was near the railway line on the evening of August 24 2023. No contact was made with Network Rail to stop the train until 20 seconds before Sgt Saville was struck at 7.08pm, Nottinghamshire coroner Laurinda Bower told the inquest. Ms Bower said the two officers were told the police control room was 'on to' National Rail and had them 'ready to go in case' Patient C went onto the tracks, but 'the phone had not been picked up'. Jack Richardson, who was working as a Nottinghamshire Police dispatcher for the Newark area that evening, gave evidence to the inquest on Wednesday, and told the court the call to stop trains on the line 'should have been made sooner'. The coroner asked him if the reassurances given to the officers were 'misleading', to which the witness replied: 'It could be interpreted that way by the officers, yes.' Ms Bower said to Mr Richardson: 'It seems to me that there was a five minute delay in seeking to make contact with Network Rail, between officers saying he is looking like he (Patient C) is going to go onto the line… then five minutes lapsing before anyone picks up the phone to get onto Network Rail. 'It limits the time Network Rail has got to take any effective action.' The witness said: 'I was not aware that we should be calling Network Rail prior to that. It was my understanding that a call should be made when someone enters a rail network.' Mr Richardson agreed it was 'obvious' that it would take more than a few seconds to stop a train moving at a speed of up to 125mph. He added: 'That call should have been made sooner. Given the new training that's been brought in, Network Rail should be advised, informed, as soon as there is a first mention of someone heading towards the railway network.' Sgt Saville sustained serious injuries and his life support was withdrawn five days after the collision, the inquest heard. The inquest continues.
Daily Record
32 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Heartbroken sister of Greg Monks pays tribute to 'amazing' brother after body found
Jillian Monks hailed the 38-year-old as "an amazing boy" who made everyone laugh as she thanked those who had helped try to find him in Albufeira. One of the sisters of missing Scot Greg Monks has paid a heartbreaking tribute to her brother, after a body was found in the search for him in Portugal.. Jillian Monks hailed the 38-year-old as "an amazing boy" who made everyone laugh as she thanked those who had helped try to find him in Albufeira. Posting in the Missing Person Greg Monks - Albufeira, Portugal Facebook group, she wrote: "Didn't think it would end like this.. We are absolutely devastated! "Greg was an amazing boy who everyone thought so highly of, Was friends with everyone and always made us laugh! We will miss him everyday! "I just want to thank absolutely everyone for everything they done from sharing their posts to out looking, phoning everywhere to get CCTV. "Special thanks to Sharon Cooke, Stacy McGhee, Georgie Gould and Karen Winter for helping run the page and all you done for my brother & to Yolanda Morgana, Dan Birch, Leonard Faria, and Michael Hosey for doing all you could searching. "Sorry if I have missed anyone, heads not 100% but everyone has been truly amazing. The support we have received from everyone has been out of this world. If love could've saved you, you would live forever! Miss you forever brother." Greg, of Cambuslang, Lanarkshire, vanished last Wednesday morning while on a stag do with pals, just hours after arriving at the holiday hotspot. Portuguese daily newspaper Correio da Manha reported the local Policia Judiciaria force was at the scene of a body find, saying the ravine in question is "a long way from the spot where he was last seen" in the Algarve. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. We told earlier how tributes had flooded in for Greg, who was hailed as a "lovely guy". Alexander McHendrie said: "Rip Greg Monks defo one of life's good guys such a shame. Heart goes out to the family and the boys also." George Garscadden said: "Heartbreaking news RIP Greg Monks. My thoughts are with Jillian and the rest of your family. You were one of the good guys in life. God bless you mate." Abby Telfer said: "So sad. Thoughts go out to my girl Jillian, her family and his poor girlfriend. Rest in peace Greg. Utterly heartbreaking." Justine Burns said: "RIP Greg Monks. What a good guy you were. Heartbroken for your family and friends. Devastating news for everyone who knew you." Agnes Neil-Neeson said: "I have no words. He was a lovely boy." Alicia Faulds said: "Heartbroken for Nicole and Greg's family. I was praying for him and hoping he would be found safe." Greg vanished in the early hours of Wednesday, May 28, while on a stag do with pals. He had just arrived for the five-day holiday when he became separated from his friends. He was last seen on CCTV in the residential area of Cerro de Aguia on Tuesday May 27, roughly four miles away from the main club and bar strip of Albufeira. A Foreign Office spokesperson said: 'We are supporting the family of a British man reported missing in Portugal and are in contact with the local authorities'.
