German investigators find 'hidden cellar' in search for Madeleine McCann
News

German investigators find 'hidden cellar' in search for Madeleine McCann

GERMAN POLICE investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann more than 13 years ago seem to have made a major breakthrough in the investigation.

Police began a large-scale search of an area in Hanover earlier this week, and while they did not say what they were looking for they confirmed it was linked to a murder case against a 43-year-old man, believed to be Christian B who is accused of abducting Madeleine.

On Tuesday, a spokesperson for the Braunschweig prosecutor's office. who are building a case against B, said the search of a garden in Hanover was related to the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.

Yesterday evening, German newspaper Bild reported that the police had finished their search of the area and discovered the remains of a garden house, including a 'secret cellar' at the site.

German police work with a digger during a search in a garden allotment in the northern German city of Hanover on July 29, 2020, in connection with the disappearance of British girl Madeleine McCann. (Photo by HAUKE-CHRISTIAN DITTRICH/AFP via Getty Images)

German investigators believe Christian B kidnapped and killed Madeleine McCann in May, 2007, and are building a murder case against him.

Portugese and British authorities, however, say there is no proof that Madeleine has been killed, and are continuing to treat her disappearance as a missing person case.

Madeleine's disappearance sparked a wave of support across the world (Picture: /AFP/Getty Images)

The case of the disappearance of Madeleine McCann more than 13 years ago was revived earlier this year when German prosecutors announced they had a new prime suspect in the case.

Christian Bruecker, a convicted rapist and drug dealer who is currently serving time in a German prison, had lived a transient lifestyle in Portugal for a number of years, and was living near the area where Madeleine and her family were holidaying at the time she disappeared.

He also lived in Hanover for several years, according to the dpa agency.

It is understood that the allotment being searched belongs to him.

HANOVER, GERMANY - JULY 29: German police have extensively searched the allotment belonging to Christian B, using  dog units and armed police. (Photo by Alexander Koerner/Getty Images)