Latest news with #McCanns
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Madeleine McCann search: Abandoned buildings examined as ground radar may be deployed
Day two in the search in Portugal's Algarve region for clues to where Madeleine McCann is - and there are pockets of police activity dotted around the vast scrubland. From where I'm standing, I can see three searches under way, all in abandoned buildings. To our right, police are using chainsaws to cut down a tree that's grown inside a derelict barn. Latest updates from the search Ahead of us, officers in white hard hats empty rubble from inside another dilapidated building. To the left, a team of three lift stones through the window of an old stone hut. It's thought that ground radar equipment may then be used to scan the floors. As we walk through the brush, the ground is dry and hard. 'Nothing has been found' Digging here is hot, exhausting work - but so far, there is no news. Police are trying to keep the press back - but the area is too large. I ask one officer for an update: "Nothing has been found," he tells me, before heading off to the tents that are the base for the 30 or so German police running this operation. Many people question just what could possibly be found here 18 years after the three-year-old British girl went missing from her family's nearby holiday apartment in Praia da Luz. Professor of Criminology at the University of Porto, Fernando Teixeira, told me that the search will have been meticulously planned. He says: "They use identification work if any bone fragment appears, and this is done in the laboratory unit." He adds: "In the field, through equipment supported by engineering, it is possible to detect whether there are in fact bone fragments that will have been deposited in the geographic areas." What do locals think about the search? Around a mile or so from the search site, we stand outside the Ocean Club Holiday Resort where the McCanns were staying. The feeling towards press in the village is not warm - it took years for the resort to recover, and even now, mention Praia da Luz and you think of Madeleine. Taryn Brown runs a beauty spa just 30 metres from the apartment. She tells me this fresh search has upset locals. She says: "It keeps dragging down Praia da Luz. All I've ever heard about is how badly everyone was affected. It took a long, long time to recover so this keeps dragging it all up again." The McCanns aren't commenting on this latest operation - they, of course, have been here before - and are used to the heartbreak of nothing being found. There are two days left to search this land - to uncover something, somewhere that might just lead to a clue as to where their daughter is.
Vancouver Sun
3 days ago
- General
- Vancouver Sun
MADDIE McCANN CASE: Tip sparked new hunt for missing toddler
The 18-year law enforcement odyssey into the shocking disappearance of toddler Maddie McCann has taken another twist. On Tuesday, German investigators began scouring the area around Praia da Luz, Portugal, on the Algarve coast, where the three-year-old vanished in 2007. The multinational probe had stalled and started multiple times since the little girl went missing. She is now believed to have been murdered. Thirty German cops have started combing more than 20 private plots of land, and the search area includes an abandoned farmhouse. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The prime suspect in Maddie's kidnapping and suspected murder is a convicted German pedophile named Christian Brueckner. He previously lived in the area of the search. Two years ago, law enforcement conducted a similar search in an area about 40 minutes away from where they are currently looking. In the end, detectives found nothing of substance. In 2020, Portuguese investigators searched three wells for Maddie's body. Their efforts were also unsuccessful. 'They will be land searches only,' a police source told the U.K. Sun . 'The main objective is to look for any signs of Madeleine's body.' Suspected pedophile Brueckner remains in a German prison where he is serving a seven-year sentence for raping an elderly American woman at the same resort where Maddie vanished from. The investigation went cold until 2020, when German homicide detectives revealed that Brueckner was a person of interest in the probe. In 2022, officials stated that the pedophile was the primary suspect. Maddie vanished during a family holiday on May 3, 2007, several days before her fourth birthday. Her parents had been having dinner with friends, leaving Maddie and her two siblings sleeping. The McCanns frequently checked on their children to make sure all was well. At 10 p.m., Maddie's mom, Kate, went to check on the children and was horrified to find the door and the window to their bedroom were both wide open. Maddie was nowhere to be found. On Tuesday, investigators were searching the area of the rundown farmhouse. A police source told the Daily Mail that the search area is 'vast' and that cops are using ground-penetrating radar. Investigators are now racing against the clock. They have yet to press formal charges against Brueckner, whose jail sentence is nearly at an end. One detective called the search a 'last-throw-of-the-dice.' Officials in Portugal remain skeptical whether anything will be found. 'We have low expectations about these searches but we've got our orders and we're not going to stand in the way,' one official told the Mail. 'The information that's being put out in the public arena is that they'll last five days with the preparation work and clean-up afterwards, and we've been told to expect three days of full work on the ground. 'But on the Portuguese side, at least there's wishful thinking that this could all be done in one day. We would love to be proved wrong and see a significant discovery because it's what we've all been working towards for so many years. 'But the area that's going to be turned upside down this week has already been searched by Portuguese officers.' Maddie's family recently marked the 18th anniversary of her disappearance, saying she was a 'very beautiful and unique person.' She would now be 22 years old. Brueckner told a German TV network that if he is sprung in September on schedule, he would move somewhere that doesn't have an extradition treaty with Germany. And he would go into hiding. bhunter@
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Key dates in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann
LONDON (Reuters) -Three-year-old Madeleine McCann, from Rothley, Leicestershire, in central England, disappeared on May 3, 2007 during a holiday with her parents in the Algarve region of southern Portugal. Eighteen years on, Portuguese police have begun searching an area of land near where she disappeared. Here is a chronology of developments: 2007 May 3 - Madeleine goes missing from her bedroom between 9.30 p.m. and 10 p.m. while her parents Kate and Gerry are dining with friends around 100 yards away at a resort in Praia da Luz. May 5 - Police say they have put together a sketch of a suspect and confirm they believe Madeleine is still alive and being held within three miles of the crime scene. May 8 - Police say they have investigated 350 suspicious incidents but still have no idea where she might be. May 10 - The search around the resort winds down. May 14 - Police search a villa just up the road from where Madeleine was snatched and take a British man, Robert Murat, to a police station for questioning. He is later released. June - The McCanns travel to Spain, Germany, the Netherlands and Morocco to appeal to the public to help search for their daughter. September - Kate and Gerry McCann are questioned by Portuguese police. They are both named as suspects, but police do not bring charges against them. The couple then fly back to Britain with their twins, Sean and Amelie. In a brief statement after landing, Gerry says: "We have played no part in the disappearance of our lovely daughter Madeleine". 2008 March - McCanns accept 550,000 pounds of libel damages from the Daily Express and Daily Star newspapers over allegations they made that they were involved in Madeleine's death. July - Portuguese authorities end their investigation and say the McCanns and Murat are no longer suspects. Murat wins libel damages from 11 papers who had said he was involved. 2009 March - The McCanns launch a new appeal for information in the Algarve. May - The McCanns publicise the search for their daughter with an appearance on Oprah Winfrey's U.S. chat show. 2011 May - British Prime Minister David Cameron asks London's Metropolitan Police to investigate the case. 2012 April - British police say Madeleine could still be alive and release an artist's impression of what she may look like. 2013 June - Britain agrees to fund a full-scale police investigation. October - Police release e-fits as part of an appeal to find a suspect who officers say is of "vital importance". Portuguese police reopen their investigation. 2014 June - Police search scrubland near to Praia da Luz. 2015 July - Australian police test the remains of a girl found in a suitcase, but they are not Madeleine's. 2019 March - Netflix releases an eight-part series about the disappearance of Madeleine. 2020 June - German police say they have a new suspect and appeal for information about a German man currently imprisoned in Germany for sexual assault offences. Convicted child abuser and drug trader Christian Brueckner was likely responsible for her disappearance, they say. July - Portuguese authorities explore three disused wells but find no evidence of a body. German police search an allotment near Hanover. 2022 April - Portuguese prosecutors formally identify Brueckner as a suspect in the disappearance. He is the first suspect they have named since Kate and Gerry McCann in 2007. May - New evidence has been found, potentially incriminating the key suspect in Madeleine's disappearance, said the German prosecutor investigating the case. 2023 May - Portuguese authorities assisted by German police search a reservoir near the area where Madeleine went missing. 2025 January - The German prosecutor investigating the disappearance says there is currently no prospect of charges being brought against Brueckner. June - Portuguese police launch a new search for traces of the child's body, focusing on an area between Praia da Luz and one of the houses where Brueckner lived.
Reuters
3 days ago
- General
- Reuters
Key dates in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann
LONDON, June 3 (Reuters) - Three-year-old Madeleine McCann, from Rothley, Leicestershire, in central England, disappeared on May 3, 2007 during a holiday with her parents in the Algarve region of southern Portugal. Eighteen years on, Portuguese police have begun searching an area of land near where she disappeared. Here is a chronology of developments: May 3 - Madeleine goes missing from her bedroom between 9.30 p.m. and 10 p.m. while her parents Kate and Gerry are dining with friends around 100 yards away at a resort in Praia da Luz. May 5 - Police say they have put together a sketch of a suspect and confirm they believe Madeleine is still alive and being held within three miles of the crime scene. May 8 - Police say they have investigated 350 suspicious incidents but still have no idea where she might be. May 10 - The search around the resort winds down. May 14 - Police search a villa just up the road from where Madeleine was snatched and take a British man, Robert Murat, to a police station for questioning. He is later released. June - The McCanns travel to Spain, Germany, the Netherlands and Morocco to appeal to the public to help search for their daughter. September - Kate and Gerry McCann are questioned by Portuguese police. They are both named as suspects, but police do not bring charges against them. The couple then fly back to Britain with their twins, Sean and Amelie. In a brief statement after landing, Gerry says: "We have played no part in the disappearance of our lovely daughter Madeleine". March - McCanns accept 550,000 pounds of libel damages from the Daily Express and Daily Star newspapers over allegations they made that they were involved in Madeleine's death. July - Portuguese authorities end their investigation and say the McCanns and Murat are no longer suspects. Murat wins libel damages from 11 papers who had said he was involved. March - The McCanns launch a new appeal for information in the Algarve. May - The McCanns publicise the search for their daughter with an appearance on Oprah Winfrey's U.S. chat show. May - British Prime Minister David Cameron asks London's Metropolitan Police to investigate the case. April - British police say Madeleine could still be alive and release an artist's impression of what she may look like. June - Britain agrees to fund a full-scale police investigation. October - Police release e-fits as part of an appeal to find a suspect who officers say is of "vital importance". Portuguese police reopen their investigation. June - Police search scrubland near to Praia da Luz. July - Australian police test the remains of a girl found in a suitcase, but they are not Madeleine's. March - Netflix releases an eight-part series about the disappearance of Madeleine. June - German police say they have a new suspect and appeal for information about a German man currently imprisoned in Germany for sexual assault offences. Convicted child abuser and drug trader Christian Brueckner was likely responsible for her disappearance, they say. July - Portuguese authorities explore three disused wells but find no evidence of a body. German police search an allotment near Hanover. April - Portuguese prosecutors formally identify Brueckner as a suspect in the disappearance. He is the first suspect they have named since Kate and Gerry McCann in 2007. May - New evidence has been found, potentially incriminating the key suspect in Madeleine's disappearance, said the German prosecutor investigating the case. May - Portuguese authorities assisted by German police search a reservoir near the area where Madeleine went missing. January - The German prosecutor investigating the disappearance says there is currently no prospect of charges being brought against Brueckner. June - Portuguese police launch a new search for traces of the child's body, focusing on an area between Praia da Luz and one of the houses where Brueckner lived.
Straits Times
3 days ago
- General
- Straits Times
Key dates in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann
A police barrier blocks a road as police resumes the search for the body of Madeleine McCann, who went missing in the Portuguese Algarve in May 2007, in Atalaia, Portugal, June 3, 2025. REUTERS/Pedro Nunes LONDON - Three-year-old Madeleine McCann, from Rothley, Leicestershire, in central England, disappeared on May 3, 2007 during a holiday with her parents in the Algarve region of southern Portugal. Eighteen years on, Portuguese police have begun searching an area of land near where she disappeared. Here is a chronology of developments: 2007 May 3 - Madeleine goes missing from her bedroom between 9.30 p.m. and 10 p.m. while her parents Kate and Gerry are dining with friends around 100 yards away at a resort in Praia da Luz. May 5 - Police say they have put together a sketch of a suspect and confirm they believe Madeleine is still alive and being held within three miles of the crime scene. May 8 - Police say they have investigated 350 suspicious incidents but still have no idea where she might be. May 10 - The search around the resort winds down. May 14 - Police search a villa just up the road from where Madeleine was snatched and take a British man, Robert Murat, to a police station for questioning. He is later released. June - The McCanns travel to Spain, Germany, the Netherlands and Morocco to appeal to the public to help search for their daughter. September - Kate and Gerry McCann are questioned by Portuguese police. They are both named as suspects, but police do not bring charges against them. The couple then fly back to Britain with their twins, Sean and Amelie. In a brief statement after landing, Gerry says: "We have played no part in the disappearance of our lovely daughter Madeleine". 2008 March - McCanns accept 550,000 pounds of libel damages from the Daily Express and Daily Star newspapers over allegations they made that they were involved in Madeleine's death. July - Portuguese authorities end their investigation and say the McCanns and Murat are no longer suspects. Murat wins libel damages from 11 papers who had said he was involved. 2009 March - The McCanns launch a new appeal for information in the Algarve. May - The McCanns publicise the search for their daughter with an appearance on Oprah Winfrey's U.S. chat show. 2011 May - British Prime Minister David Cameron asks London's Metropolitan Police to investigate the case. 2012 April - British police say Madeleine could still be alive and release an artist's impression of what she may look like. 2013 June - Britain agrees to fund a full-scale police investigation. October - Police release e-fits as part of an appeal to find a suspect who officers say is of "vital importance". Portuguese police reopen their investigation. 2014 June - Police search scrubland near to Praia da Luz. 2015 July - Australian police test the remains of a girl found in a suitcase, but they are not Madeleine's. 2019 March - Netflix releases an eight-part series about the disappearance of Madeleine. 2020 June - German police say they have a new suspect and appeal for information about a German man currently imprisoned in Germany for sexual assault offences. Convicted child abuser and drug trader Christian Brueckner was likely responsible for her disappearance, they say. July - Portuguese authorities explore three disused wells but find no evidence of a body. German police search an allotment near Hanover. 2022 April - Portuguese prosecutors formally identify Brueckner as a suspect in the disappearance. He is the first suspect they have named since Kate and Gerry McCann in 2007. May - New evidence has been found, potentially incriminating the key suspect in Madeleine's disappearance, said the German prosecutor investigating the case. 2023 May - Portuguese authorities assisted by German police search a reservoir near the area where Madeleine went missing. 2025 January - The German prosecutor investigating the disappearance says there is currently no prospect of charges being brought against Brueckner. June - Portuguese police launch a new search for traces of the child's body, focusing on an area between Praia da Luz and one of the houses where Brueckner lived. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
