Maddie McCann: Police seize a ‘number of items’ from reservoir

Detectives spent three days combing the enormous Arade Dam in Portugal last week after a request from German prosecutors.

The reservoir is around 30 miles from Praia da Luz where three-year-old Madeleine vanished in 2007.

In an update on Thursday the Braunschweig Public Prosecutor’s Office said: “The search operation carried out last week in the area of the Arade reservoir in Portugal ended on Thursday after three days as planned.

“A previously precisely defined area along the reservoir was completely searched for possible evidence.

“A number of items were seized as part of the operation. These will be evaluated in the coming days and weeks.

“It is not yet possible to say whether some of the items are actually related to the Madeleine McCann case.”

In June 2020, German police said that they believed Madeleine was dead and that convicted sex offender Christian B was likely responsible.

Christian B is currently in prison for raping a 72-year-old woman in the same area of the Algarve region from where Madeleine went missing.

He has not been charged with any crime relating to her disappearance and has always denied any involvement.

The Braunschweig Public Prosecutor’s Office also thanked police from the UK, Portugal and staff at Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office for “excellent and very constructive” cooperation.

They added that investigations into Christian B were continuing.

Divers were seen entering the water at the Arade Dam and examined the surrounding scrubland in a three-day search that ended on 25 May.