Madeleine McCann: Police Dredge Reservoir In Portugal After Tip-Off

Police involved in the case of missing Madeleine McCann are searching the Arade Dam, a reservoir located roughly 30 miles from where the British girl went missing 16 years ago in Portugal, Sky News reports. Police divers entered the water on the morning of Tuesday, May 23. The search is said to be the result of an anonymous tip-off, though no further details are currently available.

German prosecutor Christian Wolter said in a statement: “We are investigating in Portugal on the basis of certain tips [tip-offs]. I can’t disclose the background at the moment, like why we are searching there and what we hope to find there. That shall remain our secret for the moment.”

In addition to divers, a boat was also brought to the reservoir along with up to 30 police officers and a dozen sniffer dogs as the search for Madeline McCann continued. The search wasn’t confined to the dam itself — it also included the scrubland in the area.

News that a new search could be underway broke on Monday when activity was seen at the reservoir. Portuguese authorities in the area are said to be working with British and German police for further clues on what happened to the little girl back in 2007. While German authorities said in June 2020 that they believed Madeleine had been killed by a man known as Christian B, her remains have never been found.

Wolter is said to have received the lead to the reservoir from a “credible source” in April, though it’s unclear why it took so long for authorities to actually search the area. However, Jon Clarke, author of “My Search for Madeleine,” said that police are “optimistic” about finding not only Madeleine’s remains but those of other children who went missing over the years.

It should be noted that police have already searched Arade Dam back in 2008 after a local attorney shelled out the cash to have specialist divers investigate the area. However, nothing was found at the time.

Earlier this month, Madeleine McCann’s sister spoke out for the first time on the 16th anniversary of Maddie’s disappearance.

Jennifer Still is a writer and editor with more than 10 years of experience. The managing editor of Bolde, she has bylines in Vanity Fair, Business Insider, The New York Times, Glamour, Bon Appetit, and many more. You can follow her on Twitter @jenniferlstill
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