Madeleine McCann case: German police dig up Hanover garden in search of toddler who disappeared 13 years ago
- McCann went missing from her family’s holiday apartment in the Portuguese holiday resort of Praia da Luz in May 2007, a few days before her fourth birthday
- Police revealed in June that they were investigating a 43-year-old German man over McCann’s disappearance, saying they believe he killed her
Madeleine went missing from her family’s holiday apartment in the Portuguese holiday resort of Praia da Luz on May 3, 2007, a few days before her fourth birthday, as her parents dined with friends at a nearby tapas bar.
Despite a huge international manhunt, no trace of her has been found, nor has anyone been charged over her disappearance.
I can confirm that the search is being carried out in connection with our investigations into the Maddie McCann case
“I can confirm that the search is being carried out in connection with our investigations into the Maddie McCann case,” Brunswick prosecutor Julia Meyer said when asked about the operation first reported by local Hannoversche Allgemeine newspaper.
Police began searching the site in the early hours of Tuesday morning, clearing trees and using an excavator, the newspaper report said.
Meyer gave no details of how the plot was connected to the case or what they were hoping to find.
Police revealed in June that they were investigating a 43-year-old German man over the 2007 disappearance of three-year-old “Maddie”, saying they believe he killed her. The suspect, who was not named by police but identified by German media as Christian B, lived in Hanover from 2007, according to the Hannoversche Allgemeine.
Christian B has a history of previous convictions including child sex offences and rape. He is currently serving a sentence for drug trafficking in Kiel. He has applied to be released early on probation after having completed two-thirds of the sentence, with a decision still pending.