Portuguese Police Probe Reservoir in Madeleine McCann Case
A search led by German police has begun in the area around a Portuguese reservoir, as part of the continued investigation into the disappearance of British child Madeleine McCann 16 years ago.
Facts
- A search led by German police has begun in the area around a Portuguese reservoir, as part of the continued investigation into the disappearance of British child Madeleine McCann 16 years ago.1
- The area of interest is approximately 30 miles from Praia da Luz, the location of McCann's disappearance in 2007.2
- It has been reported that Christian Brueckner, the 45-year-old primary suspect of McCann’s disappearance, spent time in the area between 2010 and 2017.3
- On Tuesday, police were seen taking several bags away from the search site, with police divers also seen entering the water. A no-fly zone has been implemented over the reservoir.4
- On Monday, Portuguese police said they were coordinating searches at the request of German police and in the presence of British officers. It has been announced that the search is based upon “credible information.”5
- Brueckner, already a convicted child abuser and drug dealer, is currently in prison for raping a 72-year-old woman in the same area of the Algarve where McCann went missing. Brueckner has denied any involvement in the matter.6
Sources: 1BBC News, 2Guardian, 3ITV News, 4Sky News, 5Independent, and 6Reuters.
Narratives
- Narrative A, as provided by AMP. It's been a significant period of time since McCann disappeared, yet authorities have never given up on uncovering the truth. We must hope that this new search can provide the McCann family the peace and closure they deserve after enduring such an extended and traumatic experience.
- Narrative B, as provided by Independent. Although McCann’s disappearance was a tragedy, it’s unlikely we will ever truly know what happened to her. Investigations into her disappearance have already cost the British taxpayer just short of £13.1M since 2011, while Portuguese authorities have described her case as the most expensive in the nation's history. It is time these vast resources were put to better use, helping locate missing people with a chance of being found.
