By JAMIE BULLEN, LIVE COVERAGE EDITOR and NICK PISA, SENIOR REPORTER Updated: 16:24 BST, 3 June 2025
Police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have started a major search today following a request by German investigators.Land near the former home of Christian Brueckner, a convicted sex offender named as the prime suspect in Madeleine's disappearance, is being scoured once again in Portugal close to where Madeleine vanished 18 years ago.At least 30 agents from Germany 's FBI, the BKA, arrived at the idyllic resort of Praia da Luz last night following a tip-off received by investigators to conduct new searches throughout the week. Madeleine was three years old when she vanished from a holiday apartment complex in the Algarve in May 2007, in what has become one of the highest-profile unsolved missing person cases in the world .Our live updates have ended for now but for a full recap see belowThis live blog has now closed.We are now pausing our live updates as police continue to search in Portugal as part of investigations into missing Madeleine McCann.We will return in the event of any significant developments.To summarise, here's what has happened today:Police have closed roads and started searches for Madeleine following a request from German authorities investigating the prime suspect in her disappearance Christian BreucknerPolice sources in Portugal have said they have 'low expectations' of a discovery amid early signs cracks are appearing between Portuguese and German authoritiesPortuguese sources said the searches would take place between Brueckner’s old rented cottage and a rural area east heading towards Lagos known as AtalaiaAn abandoned hillside farmhouse has been explored by police this morning with police officers seen digging near the disused buildingIt will be the first time police have used new ground-penetrating radar technology capable of scanning up to 15ft below the surface of the ground - meaning no potentially unnecessary digsMeanwhile, Brueckner has claimed he suffered a broken rib after he was assaulted by another inmate in a face-to-face interview to German media from Sehnde PrisonRead more here:Madeleine McCann investigators search rundown farmhouseMadeleine McCann suspect suffered broken rib in prison assault by inmateRevealed: The tip-off that gives police their last chance to keep Brueckner behind bars15:18'There must be something substantial'An expert on missing persons has told Sky News 'something substantial' must have led police to conduct searches in Portugal this week.Charlie Hedges said the operation, which is due to last until Friday, is 'hugely expensive'.He said:They've been able to justify the action by getting warrants from the Portuguese authorities, so there must be something substantial that has led them to look in this area. It is quite big, covering lots of different areas, but hopefully it will reveal something that will take us towards the conclusion of this case.15:05Pictures: Firefighters check derelict well as hunt for evidence continuesThese pictures show firefighters and search teams checking a well at a derelict and abandoned property to the west of Praia De Luz. It comes as searches are being carried out by officers investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.14:34Police searches to continue until FridayThirty German police officers, including forensic experts, are expected to take part in the search along with Portuguese officers, with the activity due to last until Friday.German investigators and Portuguese officers last carried out searches in the country in 2023 near the Barragem do Arade reservoir, about 30 miles from Praia da Luz.The reservoir was previously searched in 2008, when Portuguese lawyer Marcos Aragao Correia paid for specialist divers to search it after he claimed to have been tipped off by criminal contacts that Madeleine's body was there.British police were later given permission to examine scrubland near where she vanished in 2014.13:56Latest pictures from Madeleine McCann searchHere are the latest pictures we can show you from the search taking place in Portugal concerning the Madeleine McCann case.13:30Madeleine McCann search resumes in Portugal: What has happened so far?
