5th June 2025

It’s been 18 years since Madeleine McCann disappeared while on a family holiday in Portugal.

Madeleine, who was three years old at the time of her disappearance, was sleeping in a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz with her younger twin siblings, Amelie and Sean. Her parents were at a restaurant nearby.

As one of the world’s most high-profile missing person cases, Madeleine’s disappearance has been an almost constant presence in the media. However, in recent days, interest in the case has intensified as a new search for Maddie got underway close to where she vanished.

German and Portuguese police officers have been combing an area of scrubland and derelict buildings in Atalaia in a fresh search for clues.

It is believed that the officers had been given until Friday 6th June to complete their search. However, the latest information from the scene shows that the search has concluded early, finishing at 5.00pm this afternoon (5^th June).

Over the past three days, ground-piercing radar, pickaxes, drones, shovels, and a digger have been used to search the area.

This latest search was ordered by the German authorities to find evidence that could connect suspect Christian Brüeckner to the case.

Brüeckner is currently in prison in Germany and lived in the area close to where Maddie disappeared. He may be released from prison in the coming months. Brüeckner has been named as a suspect since 2020. However, so far, no charges have been brought against him.

CNN Portugal reports that a police source has confirmed that all evidence gathered in the latest search will now be given to the German authorities as part of their investigation.

At the time of writing, there has been no official statement from the authorities regarding this latest search.

News from The Guardian