Madeleine McCann UPDATES: Cops make shock find buried in ground in latest search

Bombshell new reports claim police working on the Madeleine McCann case found two guns buried underground during the recent round of searches in Portugal

It has been reported police working on the Madeleine McCann case found two guns buried underground during last week’s searches in Portugal.

Clothing and animal bones were also found. The items will now be sent back to Germany where they will undergo forensic analysis.

It follows fresh claims about prime suspect Christian Brueckner, with a new documentary claiming images of children’s swimming costumes, guns, a mask and toddler’s toys were found at a property in Germany linked to the convicted paedophile.

How much has UK spent of operation to find Madeleine McCann?

The UK has spent several million pounds in its efforts to find out any information about Madeleine McCann.

Funding given to Operation Grange has reached more than £13.2million since 2011.

As of 2022, there were five Metropolitan police officers who were working on the case.

Praia da Luz residents hope for closure

The residents of Praia da Luz have said they hope the family of Madeleine McCann will “get closure.”

Long-term residents in the resort town said they hoped the search would bring the family much-needed closure.

Speaking to the BBC, residents said: “We hope her family get closure.”

Police search for smoking gun – expert

Images of children in swimming costumes, toddler toys, and sick kidnapping stories written by Breuckner, and a hard drive were all found at a property in Neuwegersleben, Germany linked to Brueckner, according to a new documentary.

Professor of Forensic Science at the University of Kent, Robert Green, believes the decision from authorities to carry out searches into Brueckner’s lair could serve as a “smoking gun”.

He told The Mirror: “The authorities’ decision to carry out a new search, it is likely influenced by the accumulation of new evidence and information that may have come to light, particularly from recent documentaries and interviews.

“As for the hard drive, if it contains incriminating evidence, it may indeed serve as a ‘smoking gun’ for investigators. Digital evidence often provides invaluable insights into a suspect’s activities, intentions, and potential connections to criminal cases. Should the contents be substantial, they could significantly strengthen the case against Brueckner.”

Madeleine McCann prime suspect Christian Brueckner

Brueckner’s court appearances

Last year, Brueckner was acquitted of carrying out five other sexual offences in Portugal between 2000 and 2017 after a judge in Braunschweig said there was not enough evidence to convict him.

But German investigators – determined to keep the dangerous Brueckner behind bars – have continued to build a case against him regarding Madeleine McCann.

In May this year, he returned to court on charges of insulting a public official. Despite prosecutors urging for an extended sentence, he was only given probation with a minimum of one additional month in prison.

Before one of his court appearances, the Mirror asked him if he knew what had happened to Madeleine McCann. He responded with a smirk.

Brueckner’s hard drive

While investigators have been tight-lipped about what information they have linking him to Madeleine, some details have made their way into the public domain.

According to a documentary by The Sun, suspicious items found in a German warehouse bought by Brueckner a year after Madeleine’s disappearance included guns, 75 girl’s swimming costumes, and a car with chemicals hidden in the boot.

Remains of a dead dog were uncovered along with a hard-drive, as well as a number of child kidnap stories believed to have been penned by the paedophile.

A former inmate in the same prison as Brueckner has also alleged that he once told him about a number of offences he had committed, including reportedly snatching a girl from a flat in Portugal.

Christian Brueckner’s time in Portugal

Convicted rapist and paedophile Christian Brueckner is at the centre of a desperate race against time to find new evidence in the Madeleine McCann case.

Police are looking into his time In Portugal where he lived a nomadic lifestyle in a VW camper van and stole from hotels and holiday flats to support himself financially. He spent time in the Praia de Luz area of Portugal between 2000 and 2017. His home was just one mile away from the Ocean Club, where the McCann family were staying when Madeleine vanished on May 3, 2007.

In 2005, he raped a 72-year-old American woman, an offence for which he was jailed 14 years later

Years later, investigators reportedly found his mobile phone had received a call close to the holiday flat complex around one hour before the three-year-old was reported missing.

Guns, bones and clothes to be sent for analysis

The Olive Press reports the guns, bones and clothing reportedly found during the latest round of Madeleine McCann searches will now be sent off for forensic analysis.

While the bones are said to be from animals, there are some smaller fragments which supposedly need looking at in closer detail.

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Police ‘found buried guns’ during latest search

Police reportedly found two guns in the search for Madeleine McCann last week.

The firearms have now been sent back to Germany for analysis, along with fragments of bones and clothing which had already been reported, according to The Olive Press

What have the McCann family said?

Kate and Gerry McCann don’t often comment on the search for their daughter these days, with their last update coming on May 3 this year.

On the 18th anniversary of Madeleine’s disappearance, they said: “The years appear to be passing even more quickly and whilst we have no significant news to share, our determination to ‘leave no stone unturned’ is unwavering. We will do our utmost to achieve this.”

They added: “May is also Madeleine’s birthday – her 22nd this year. No matter how near or far she is, she continues to be right here with us, every day, but especially on her special day. We continue to ‘celebrate’ her as the very beautiful and unique person she is. We miss her.”

What are police analysing?

Police in Germany are inspecting tiny fragments of clothes and bone.

A source told the Berlin Morning Post: “Several objects have apparently been discovered, which are now being examined in more detail by the police in the laboratory. As Portuguese media report, clothing debris and bones were found, among other things..

“The investigators have not officially commented on whether the finds could have anything to do with Madeleine’s disappearance but that is clearly their hope.”

Christian Brueckner’s time in Portugal explained

Brueckner spent time in the Praia de Luz area of Portugal between 2000 and 2017.

His home was just one mile away from the Ocean Club, where the McCann family were staying when Madeleine vanished on May 3, 2007.

Years later, investigators reportedly found his mobile phone had received a call close to the holiday flat complex around one hour before the three-year-old was reported missing.

In 2005, he raped a 72-year-old American woman, an offence for which he was jailed 14 years later.

Brueckner was living a mile away from Ocean Club in Praia Da Luz at the time Madeleine went missing (

Maddie McCann’s brother Sean tipped for Team GB stardom at Olympics

Madeleine McCann’s university student brother Sean is tipped to become an Olympic athlete.

Sean and his twin sister Amelie were just two years old when their sister disappeared 18 years ago in the Algarve in 2007.

Today 20-year-old Sean has become a highly accomplished swimmer tipped to join Team GB in Los Angeles in 2028.

Recently Sean was captured on camera with a gold medal around his neck after competing in a Mediterranean open water swimming competition.