Madeleine McCann search update as cops say village may hold 'vital clues'

02 June 2023 , 12:53

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German prosecutors said in 2020 that they believe Madeleine is dead (Image: Getty Images)

In a major new update on the missing Madeleine McCann case, police say the village where their prime suspect lives could hold vital clues.

German prosecutors said in 2020 that they believe Madeleine is dead and that their suspect Christian Brueckner was likely responsible.

There are now desperate renewed efforts to link him to the death of the British girl last seen alive at age three in 2007.

Last week, the first search in nine years took place after German prosecutors received "credible" evidence to lead them there.

Now, it has been revealed that a village where suspect Christian lived could hold vital clues to solving the mystery of her disappearance.

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Foral is the village where convicted rapist Christian lived in the months after Maddie's disappearance and is a 50-minute drive from Praia de Luz, where she was last seen alive.

Christian Brueckner is a suspect in the case (REX/Shutterstock)

The Sun has revealed that he lived in a run-down secluded home in the village and one source said: "Christian B spent a lot of time there after Maddie vanished.

"It was his favourite hangout and cops believe images of the area are among many of Christian B’s pictures they currently have in their possession."

Investigators spent three days searching the surrounding area of the Arade dam and reservoir, about 30 miles from Praia da Luz and uncovered a "number of items" that could be linked to the case.

Foral is the village where convicted rapist Christian lived in the months after Maddie's disappearance

Police were spotted removing what appeared to be large brown evidence bags from the search site.

But the Sun has now revealed other locations have also emerged in Christian's stash of 8,000 videos and images which are allegedly proving to be vital evidence.

"Detectives are seeking to work out where these places are and why Christian B was taking pictures of those places," the source said.

Undated family handout photo of Madeleine (PA)

They continued: "The trail is leading to Foral because this is an area that officers know that Christian B spent a long time in and around at the time Maddie went missing.

"It’s an area where police officers believe would benefit from being looked at again and revisiting to see if it can throw up fresh leads.

"They firmly believe other sites are out there which require a fresh search."

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Search teams looking for clues to the disappearance of Madeleine (Phil Harris)

The German convicted rapist and paedophile often worked at the village restaurant and locals were reportedly scared of him.

"He came and went and was a really scary guy, people were scared of him in the village," one local said at the time.

The 45-year-old is currently serving a seven-year sentence in Germany over the rape of a pensioner in the same area in Portugal where Maddie went missing.

Rachel Hagan