Police search for Maddie McCann’s body in reservoir

Portuguese police officers, accompanied by colleagues from Germany and Great Britain, resumed their work at the Arade reservoir near the municipality of Silves in the morning, according to the state news agency Lusa. The search was started on Tuesday at the request of the German investigators.

As on the previous day, forest workers were again on duty on Thursday to remove vegetation, as Lusa reported and could be seen on television pictures. There was also no information as to whether clues could be found that could help clarify the mysterious disappearance of the girl. The Portuguese police emphasized that possible results would only be communicated after the end of the action.

So far, primarily soil samples have been collected for later analysis, the Portuguese state TV broadcaster RTP reported the day before. Dozens of vehicles and specialists were involved in the operation, and blue tents served as the coordination center. The search is expected to end on Thursday.

This new search is taking place about 50 kilometers north-east of the holiday resort of the seaside resort of Praia da Luz, from which little Madeleine disappeared on May 3, 2007 without a trace. The public prosecutor’s office in Braunschweig is investigating the case against a German with a criminal record. It is believed that Christian B., now 46, kidnapped and killed the girl. But a body was never found. Authorities spokesman Hans Christian Wolters only said that the action was based on “recent developments”.