Crews of investigators scoured Portuguese scrubland looking for clues to the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, who vanished in 2007, with three key discoveries sent off for analysis

Detectives searching for clues to the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have unearthed several pieces of evidence which have been sent to Germany for analysis, sources say. Crews of German and Portuguese investigators spent three days scouring scrubland and abandoned structures including an area where prime suspect Christian Brueckner was living at the time the three-year-old vanished on May 3 2007.

Cops are trying to unearth new evidence linking the German paedophile, 48, to Maddie’s disappearance before he is released from jail. He is currently caged for the rape of a 72-year-old US woman in Praia da Luz, Portugal in 2005 but is due to walk free in September after completing his sentence. Madeleine McCann vanished on May 3 while she was on holiday with her family at the Ocean Club in Praia da Luz.

Three-year-old Madeleine McCann vanished on May 3 2007 while on holiday with her parents in Praia da Luz, Portugal(Image: PA)

Brueckner spent many years in Portugal, including in Praia da Luz, around the time of her disappearance. He’s currently under investigation by police in his home country on suspicion of murder in the Madeleine McCann case, but hasn’t been charged.

The joint task force of German and Portuguese detectives finished their three-day operation across a 120-acre site in Lagos, Portugal last Thursday. Here are the three top findings of significance:

Firearms

Police reportedly found two guns in the search for Madeleine McCann last week, according to The Olive Press. There is currently no information on the types of firearms discovered and the weapons have now been sent back to Germany for analysis.

“In total we found two guns, but we don’t know if they are related to Christian Brueckner or his offences,” a source close to the Portuguese probe told the news outlet.

Christian Brueckner is currently in jail for rape but is due for release in September(Image: Phil Harris)

Clothing

The second piece of evidence sent for study at German crime labs was some pieces of clothing. The find was unearthed by search teams combing the 120-acre stretch of land not far from where three-year-old Maddie went missing.

The textiles and clothes found by cops are reportedly adult size and local reports claim there were no obvious signs of a link to Brueckner.

Police searching an area near the spot where Madeleine was last seen(Image: Andy Commins / Daily Mirror)

Bones

The third item turned up in the search was a collection of bones. The bones are said to be from animals, but some smaller fragments will be analysed by specialists.

A source told the Berlin Morning Post: “Several objects have apparently been discovered, which are now being examined in more detail by the police in the laboratory. As Portuguese media report, clothing debris and bones were found, among other things.

“The investigators have not officially commented on whether the finds could have anything to do with Madeleine’s disappearance but that is clearly their hope.”