Has Madeleine McCann been found? Police to search reservoir visited by key suspect Christian Brueckner

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Police looking for Madeleine McCann are to begin a major search of a remote Algarve reservoir visited by main suspect Christian Brueckner. open image in gallery Portuguese authorities gathered at a makeshift camp near the reservoir open image in gallery A number of official blue and white tents appeared near the reservoir as it was closed off on Monday An onlooker said: “There are around two dozen Policia Judiciaria officers who seem to be supervising things at this stage.” Portugal’s judiciary police confirmed reports of the German-led investigation on Monday evening, with German and British officers expected to reach the area imminently. Scotland Yard officers are due to travel to Portugal but theirs will be a watching brief.” open image in gallery Christian Brueckner spent time in the Algarve in the early 2000s Brueckner, a jailed paedophile who spent time in the Algarve between 2000 and 2017, is believed to have called the area near the reservoir his “little slice of paradise”, according to Portuguese broadcaster SIC, which reported that the search will last for several days. Last autumn, Brueckner was charged in Germany with several sex crimes on the Algarve against women and children including the rape of an Irish holiday rep in 2004 and the sexual abuse of a 10-year-old girl on a beach near Praia da Luz in 2007. open image in gallery Kate and Gerry McCann recently posted a tribute to their daughter to mark her 20th birthday Brueckner’s lawyer revealed in April those charges had been dropped after successfully arguing that German prosecutors had no jurisdiction over him.