Police probing Madeleine McCann disappearance to search reservoir

The area around the Arade Dam was known to be frequented by the 'official suspect' in the case.

Police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have been granted the authority to search a reservoir near to Praia de Luz.

Officers are to search the area around the Arade Dam – around 50 kilometres from the resort where Madeleine vanished in 2007 – on Tuesday, according to local media.

The operation, which was requested by German police rather than their Portuguese counterparts, is thought to be related to the movements of Christian Brueckner – who was made an “official suspect” in the case last year.

The mile-long search area was sealed off by police on Monday ahead of the search getting under way.

Convicted sex offender Brueckner is currently serving a seven-year sentence for rape in Portugal in 2005.

He has never been charged over Madeleine’s disappearance and has denied any involvement.

Madeleine disappeared from the Ocean Club resort in Praia da Luz, in Portugal’s Algarve when she disappeared on May 3, 2007.

Her parents Kate and Gerry, from Glasgow, held a vigil to mark 16 years since her disappearance.

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