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| Madeleine McCann: Police complete search of three sites | Madeleine McCann: Police complete search of three sites |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have completed their search of three sites near the Algarve holiday resort of Praia da Luz. | Police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have completed their search of three sites near the Algarve holiday resort of Praia da Luz. |
| Portuguese and British officers were seen shaking hands with each other, and taking down a police cordon. | Portuguese and British officers were seen shaking hands with each other, and taking down a police cordon. |
| Police sources have confirmed to the BBC that Wednesday's searches have now been completed. | |
| Madeleine was three when she went missing in Praia da Luz in May 2007. | Madeleine was three when she went missing in Praia da Luz in May 2007. |
| The BBC's Tom Burridge, in Praia da Luz, said he saw police appearing to be saying their goodbyes to each other. | The BBC's Tom Burridge, in Praia da Luz, said he saw police appearing to be saying their goodbyes to each other. |
| After the physical search is over, Portuguese police are due to question "several suspects" who are described as of interest in the case. | After the physical search is over, Portuguese police are due to question "several suspects" who are described as of interest in the case. |
| Earlier on Wednesday, police used bolt cutters to open gates to get into the 15-acre grounds of a property, which made up the third search site. | Earlier on Wednesday, police used bolt cutters to open gates to get into the 15-acre grounds of a property, which made up the third search site. |
| Officers also spent three hours searching an area of grassy land about 15 minutes' walk from Praia da Luz - which was the second area they have searched in the past 10 days. | Officers also spent three hours searching an area of grassy land about 15 minutes' walk from Praia da Luz - which was the second area they have searched in the past 10 days. |
| Two dogs, from South Wales Police, were seen with their handlers inside the second search site, where officers concentrated on a smaller area marked out with police tape. | Two dogs, from South Wales Police, were seen with their handlers inside the second search site, where officers concentrated on a smaller area marked out with police tape. |
| 'Several suspects' | 'Several suspects' |
| Yellow and white police tape had earlier been stretched around the area and had been guarded by armed local police. | Yellow and white police tape had earlier been stretched around the area and had been guarded by armed local police. |
| The area included a plot of land with vegetables growing in the middle and a number of dilapidated outbuildings around it. | The area included a plot of land with vegetables growing in the middle and a number of dilapidated outbuildings around it. |
| The BBC understands the land is owned by a construction company based near the Portuguese capital Lisbon and has been left as scrubland after permission to build on it was turned down. | The BBC understands the land is owned by a construction company based near the Portuguese capital Lisbon and has been left as scrubland after permission to build on it was turned down. |
| A source said Portuguese police had searched the land in 2007 - after Madeleine disappeared - and had visited the site "four or five times". | A source said Portuguese police had searched the land in 2007 - after Madeleine disappeared - and had visited the site "four or five times". |
| It comes after a week-long search of another site - a 15-acre area of scrubland in Praia da Luz - was completed at the weekend and police cordons were removed on Sunday night. | It comes after a week-long search of another site - a 15-acre area of scrubland in Praia da Luz - was completed at the weekend and police cordons were removed on Sunday night. |
| Portuguese police have said nothing of interest was found during last week's search. However, they announced "several suspects" were likely to be interviewed in the "very near future". | Portuguese police have said nothing of interest was found during last week's search. However, they announced "several suspects" were likely to be interviewed in the "very near future". |
| UK police had already asked authorities if they could speak to three "people of interest", the BBC understands. | UK police had already asked authorities if they could speak to three "people of interest", the BBC understands. |
| 'Encouraged' | 'Encouraged' |
| British officers will be allowed to sit in, but cannot intervene in proceedings, Portuguese officials have said. | British officers will be allowed to sit in, but cannot intervene in proceedings, Portuguese officials have said. |
| The search resumed on Wednesday after a two-day pause because of a Portuguese national holiday. | The search resumed on Wednesday after a two-day pause because of a Portuguese national holiday. |
| A variety of techniques, including the use of ground-penetrating radar and sniffer dogs, have already been employed by the team of officers from Portugal and the UK. | A variety of techniques, including the use of ground-penetrating radar and sniffer dogs, have already been employed by the team of officers from Portugal and the UK. |
| It is the most significant police activity in Praia da Luz since Madeleine went missing seven years ago. | It is the most significant police activity in Praia da Luz since Madeleine went missing seven years ago. |
| Her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, had been eating dinner with friends a short distance away when the three-year-old disappeared from their Ocean Club holiday apartment. | Her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, had been eating dinner with friends a short distance away when the three-year-old disappeared from their Ocean Club holiday apartment. |
| The McCanns, from Rothley, Leicestershire, have said they have been "encouraged" by the progress made by police. | The McCanns, from Rothley, Leicestershire, have said they have been "encouraged" by the progress made by police. |
| The search in Praia da Luz comes after the Met launched a fresh investigation into Madeleine's disappearance last July, codenamed Operation Grange. | The search in Praia da Luz comes after the Met launched a fresh investigation into Madeleine's disappearance last July, codenamed Operation Grange. |