Madeleine McCann: no fresh evidence uncovered in scrubland search

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/jun/11/madeleine-mccann-no-fresh-evidence-scrubland-search

Version 0 of 1.

Detectives investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have uncovered no fresh evidence after searching scrubland in Portugal, Scotland Yard has said.

A team of British police officers ended the unprecedented ground-level operation on Wednesday after scouring 60,000 square metres of wasteland in Praia da Luz, the holiday resort where she was last seen alive seven years ago.

In a statement, Scotland Yard said the meticulous searches were based on the hypothesis that Madeleine was murdered and buried locally, but stressed that all lines of inquiry remained open.

The major police search, which began last Monday, was the first to be undertaken in Praia da Luz since the then three-year-old girl disappeared from a holiday apartment on 3 May 2007.

The force described the operation as the largest overseas deployment ever undertaken by British police and said it was the "first phase of this investigation" into Madeleine's disappearance. Although the eight-day searches turned up no fresh evidence, the Met said detectives had gained an "essential understanding of the activity on and people that have used this piece of land".

The force added in a statement: "There is still a substantial amount of work yet to be completed in the coming weeks and months, which again should be viewed as no more than normal operational activity in a case of this size and complexity.

"This recent work is part of ensuring that all lines of inquiry are progressed in a systematic manner and covers just the one hypothesis that she was killed and buried locally. This is the same as would be done in the UK for a murder or high-risk missing person inquiry. The scientific support staff involved were there to provide the highest level of assurance that this area was searched to the highest possible standards."

Detectives identified 41 ground anomalies after surveying the site by air and land, police said, but further investigations failed to turn up any relevant evidence.

Metropolitan police DCI Andy Redwood, the senior officer investigating the case, was earlier seen at the third and final search site just outside Praia da Luz. A team of British police officers and two trained sniffer dogs searched the grounds of a large property after using bolt croppers to open the tall metal gates outside.

Across from the site, graffiti in big red letters has been scrawled across a wall, stating "Polícia inglesa estupidos" (stupid English police) with Madeleine's named written alongside it, but spelt as "Meddi".

After the searches had drawn to a close, Scotland Yard confirmed that "more activity has been agreed" and would be commenced shortly.

It is understood that Portuguese police are preparing to question several suspects on behalf of their British counterparts. The suspects are all believed to reside locally and are "mostly Portuguese", Portuguese police sources said.