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| Madeleine McCann: Police begin to search second site | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have begun searching a new site near Praia da Luz. | Police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have begun searching a new site near Praia da Luz. |
| Portuguese officers have taped off the area - which is around 15 minutes' walk from the Algarve holiday resort - and UK officers with two police sniffer dogs have started searching the site. | Portuguese officers have taped off the area - which is around 15 minutes' walk from the Algarve holiday resort - and UK officers with two police sniffer dogs have started searching the site. |
| The new search area is an overgrown grassy patch of land situated off the main road out of Praia da Luz. | The new search area is an overgrown grassy patch of land situated off the main road out of Praia da Luz. |
| Madeleine was three when she went missing in the resort in May 2007. | Madeleine was three when she went missing in the resort in May 2007. |
| The two dogs, from South Wales Police, have been seen with their handlers inside the cordon, where officers are concentrating on a smaller area marked out with police tape. | The two dogs, from South Wales Police, have been seen with their handlers inside the cordon, where officers are concentrating on a smaller area marked out with police tape. |
| Yellow and white police tape had earlier been stretched around the new area, which is guarded by armed local police. | Yellow and white police tape had earlier been stretched around the new area, which is guarded by armed local police. |
| The larger cordoned-off area includes a plot of land with vegetables growing in the middle and a number of dilapidated outbuildings around it. | The larger cordoned-off area includes a plot of land with vegetables growing in the middle and a number of dilapidated outbuildings around it. |
| Officers from Scotland Yard are expected to spend today and possibly Thursday and Friday searching the new site. | Officers from Scotland Yard are expected to spend today and possibly Thursday and Friday searching the new site. |
| It comes after a week-long search of the first 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 the first 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 new search has resumed after a two-day pause due to a Portuguese national holiday. | The new search has resumed after a two-day pause due to 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. |
| In March, they said they were seeking an intruder who sexually abused five girls in Portugal between 2004 and 2006. | In March, they said they were seeking an intruder who sexually abused five girls in Portugal between 2004 and 2006. |
| Detectives said the attacks had happened in holiday villas occupied by UK families in the Algarve. | Detectives said the attacks had happened in holiday villas occupied by UK families in the Algarve. |