New Search Operation for Madeleine McCann 18 Years Later

A significant new search operation has commenced in Portugal, focusing on a four-mile area around Christian Brückner's residence near Praia da Luz, as authorities intensify efforts to gather evidence regarding the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. This search is regarded as a final attempt to secure enough evidence to bring Brückner to trial, marking the most extensive operation since 2008.

Approximately 30 German police officers have arrived in Portugal to initiate the search, alongside forensic specialists. The operation is anticipated to last around three days, and the primary goal is to locate possible remains of Madeleine McCann.

Christian Brückner resided in close proximity to Praia da Luz at the time of McCann's disappearance from her parents' holiday apartment. He was identified as the main suspect in 2022, although he has consistently denied any involvement in the case.

Currently, the 48-year-old German is serving a seven-year prison sentence in Germany for a separate incident involving the break-in and assault of a 72-year-old American tourist in the same vacation area in 2005. Last year, he was acquitted in a German court of charges related to another alleged rape and multiple sexual assaults that reportedly occurred in Portugal between 2000 and 2017.

German prosecutors are keen to secure evidence linking Brückner to McCann's disappearance before his release, which is scheduled for September of this year. A source familiar with the case has indicated that if released, Brückner may vanish and potentially never be seen again, highlighting concerns raised by his own legal representatives.

In April, funding of an additional £100,000 was approved for the police investigation into the McCann case. Despite the recent 18-year anniversary of Madeleine's disappearance, her parents remain resolute in their commitment to continue searching for her. In a statement released on the anniversary, they expressed their unwavering determination to leave no stone unturned in their quest for answers.

• May 2007: Madeleine McCann disappears from her parents' vacation apartment in Praia Da Luz, sparking an immediate police investigation.
• September 2007: Kate and Gerry McCann are officially named suspects in their daughter's alleged murder.
• July 2008: After Portuguese authorities close their investigation, the McCanns are exonerated of any wrongdoing.
• April 2012: UK police suggest that Madeleine may still be alive and request the reopening of the case.
• June 2014: A search is conducted in the area where Madeleine disappeared, utilizing search dogs.
• May 2019: Portuguese police announce they are investigating a foreign "pedophile" as a suspect.
• April 2022: Christian Brückner is named the primary suspect by Portuguese authorities.
• June 2025: The most extensive search operation since 2008 begins in the vicinity of McCann's disappearance, with Brückner still the primary suspect.