Material found at Madeleine McCann search site

Police have collected materials at a Portuguese reservoir following a three-day search into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.

The operation saw Portuguese, German, and English police working together to examine the vegetation close to the dam.

Officers were seen clearing the areas using rakes, shovels, chainsaws, and a small excavator.

After the area was cleared, sniffer dogs were brought into each location.

There were several bags seen leaving the site — although, it is unknown what they contained.

Portuguese police have stated that the search “resulted in the collection of some material that will be subject to the competent expertise.”

They confirmed that the material collected will be sent to German investigators for further testing.

German authorities requested the search after new information came to light.

According to German state prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters, “certain tips” from a credible police informant linked the Barragem do Arade (Arade Dam) to the missing British girl.

Wolters gave the following statement to German TV Channel RTL: “They are not tips that come from the accused… but you can imagine that we don’t start searching somewhere in Portugal on the off chance, but that there must be a good reason for it.”

A German national, Christian Brueckner, was identified as a suspect in June 2020 and is still being treated as the prime suspect in this investigation.

Brueckner is a convicted sex offender and currently serving a seven-year prison sentence in Germany for crimes committed in Portugal between 2000 and 2017.

It is believed that he frequented the remote reservoir in his camper van — a site that is less than 50km from the resort in Praia da Luz where Madeleine disappeared from in May 2007.

Brueckner has denied any involvement in the child’s case.

This year marks 16 years since Madeleine McCann’s disappearance, and her parents have said they are “never going to give up” looking.