New Madeleine McCann Search in Portugal After 17 Years
Nearly 17 years after British girl Madeleine McCann vanished during a family vacation in Portugal, police have launched a new search near the town of Praia da Luz. This joint operation brings together Portuguese and German police. They are focusing on sites close to where Madeleine disappeared in 2007. She was just three years old when she vanished from a holiday apartment, sparking one of the world’s most widely reported missing person cases. The search garnered massive worldwide media attention and prompted massive European police investigations.
Where Is the New Search Taking Place?
Today, police focus their search on 21 properties between the Ocean Club hotel, where Madeleine was last seen, and the home of prime suspect Christian Brückner at that time. The area lies within the Lagos municipality, about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) from the Ocean Club. Authorities closed the roads leading to the site on Monday for security reasons. Officers set up a large blue tent near some empty coastal buildings, signaling an intensified effort. On Tuesday, German police vehicles and a Portuguese fire engine arrived, highlighting the joint nature of the investigation.
For context on the location, you can learn more about the cultural and touristic significance of Praia da Luz at the official tourist website Visit Portugal – Praia da Luz.
The Prime Suspect: Christian Brückner
The wider investigation focuses on Christian Brückner, a 48-year-old German national currently serving a prison sentence in Germany for raping a 72-year-old American visitor in 2005. He has a long criminal history and lived in the Algarve area from 2000 to 2017. Officials planned to release Brückner in 2024, but unpaid fines may delay his release until early 2026.
The German police have concerns that without charges related to Madeleine’s vanishing, Brückner could attempt to disappear on release. While there are reasonable suspicions and some circumstantial evidence, e.g., mobile phone calls placing him at the resort and connections to a car sale, there is not yet sufficient evidence to arrest him. Brückner has protested innocence throughout. For detailed background on Brückner and the investigation, see The Guardian’s coverage of Madeleine McCann.
Purpose and Background of the Investigation
Police have not officially linked the new search to fresh evidence, but many believe it may be a final, thorough attempt to uncover hidden clues—or possibly Madeleine’s remains. Around 30 German officers are working under the direction of Portuguese authorities. They are operating under a European search warrant, which Portuguese prosecutors have approved, allowing them to access private property legally. Any evidence they collect will go directly to German prosecutors, who are leading the investigation.
Madeleine disappeared on the evening of May 3, 2007, during her sleep in a holiday flat with her twin siblings. Her parents, Gerry and Kate McCann, were dining in the vicinity and visited the children now and then. At approximately 10 p.m., Kate discovered that Madeleine was missing, launching a massive search effort drawing immediate worldwide attention. In 2011, Operation Grange was launched by the Metropolitan Police in London, a specialist squad to solve the case, government-funded until 2020. In 2020, German police took over command, officially making Brückner the main suspect. New evidence emerged linking him to the area, including mobile phone records and the sale of a vehicle. In 2022, a documentary suggested Brückner occasionally worked odd jobs at the Ocean Club holiday resort complex, again raising suspicions. A detailed breakdown of these is given in the BBC documentary: BBC Documentary on Madeleine McCann.
Family’s Ongoing Search for Answers and Next Steps
Madeleine’s parents recently marked 18 years since her disappearance, once again expressing their “determination to leave no stone unturned.” Despite the long passage of time, Kate and Gerry McCann continue to support every effort to uncover the truth and find closure.
The latest search has reignited hope, showing that investigators still treat Madeleine’s case as active. While authorities have not reported any breakthroughs, the strong cooperation between Portuguese and German police reflects their unwavering resolve to solve one of the world’s most gripping missing person cases.
For up-to-date information and words from officials, visit the Metropolitan Police’s official webpage on the case: Metropolitan Police – Operation Grange.