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Madeleine McCann police use ground-penetrating radar in Portugal search Madeleine McCann police use ground-penetrating radar in Portugal search
(about 1 hour later)
Detectives investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have used ground-penetrating radar for the first time in scrubland a short distance from the apartment where she was last seen in 2007.Detectives investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have used ground-penetrating radar for the first time in scrubland a short distance from the apartment where she was last seen in 2007.
Two Scotland Yard officers deployed the technology on Wednesday morning to detect whether there had been any disturbance to the earth next to a cobbled backstreet in the Portuguese holiday resort of Praia da Luz.Two Scotland Yard officers deployed the technology on Wednesday morning to detect whether there had been any disturbance to the earth next to a cobbled backstreet in the Portuguese holiday resort of Praia da Luz.
The radar was in a laptop-sized box on the ground connected by a black cable to a silver box being held by one of the uniformed officers.The radar was in a laptop-sized box on the ground connected by a black cable to a silver box being held by one of the uniformed officers.
The development marks the first time the ground-penetrating radar has been used in the search, which began on Monday. It was used for about half an hour in patch of scrubland further up the hill from where detectives were digging on Tuesday. The development marks the first time the ground-penetrating radar has been used in the search, which began on Monday. It was used for about half an hour in a patch of scrubland further up the hill from where detectives were digging on Tuesday.
Later on Wednesday, officers erected a white tent over the section of chopped-back shrubbery and scrap of iron. It is thought that the iron covers a void in the ground and is where detectives earlier collected soil samples. Later on Wednesday, officers erected a white tent over the section of chopped-back shrubbery and a scrap of iron. It is thought that the iron covers a void in the ground and is where detectives earlier collected soil samples.
DCI Andy Redwood, the investigator leading the operation, earlier visited this small area on Wednesday morning, inspecting the patch of land from different viewing points as he was briefed by a uniformed detective. DCI Andy Redwood, the investigator leading the operation, visited this small area on Wednesday morning, inspecting the patch of land from different viewing points as he was briefed by a uniformed detective.
Ten Portuguese police officers are on 24-hour guard at the perimeter of the site, including some on horseback and others with police dogs.Ten Portuguese police officers are on 24-hour guard at the perimeter of the site, including some on horseback and others with police dogs.
Officers started digging up scrubland for the first time in Praia da Luz on Tuesday as they prepared to expand significantly the search operation in the resort where she went missing. Officers started digging up scrubland for the first time in Praia da Luz on Tuesday as they prepared to significantly expand the search operation in the resort where she went missing.
Officers armed with shovels, strimmers and two sniffer dogs scoured a small patch of land where the searches focused, with some investigators digging up patches of earth 300 metres from the apartment block where the three-year-old girl was last seen.Officers armed with shovels, strimmers and two sniffer dogs scoured a small patch of land where the searches focused, with some investigators digging up patches of earth 300 metres from the apartment block where the three-year-old girl was last seen.
On Wednesday two officers in British police uniform returned to that same site at the foot of the hill, where they have placed red tape around a small patch of shrubs growing next to a scrap of corrugated iron.
A Metropolitan police officer looked on as a worker used a petrol strimmer to chop back shrubbery next to where they dug on Tuesday afternoon, suggesting the small patch of land remains a key area of interest for investigators.A Metropolitan police officer looked on as a worker used a petrol strimmer to chop back shrubbery next to where they dug on Tuesday afternoon, suggesting the small patch of land remains a key area of interest for investigators.
Nearby, two Met officers used shovels to dig up bits of earth before taking soil samples away in buckets to be examined.Nearby, two Met officers used shovels to dig up bits of earth before taking soil samples away in buckets to be examined.
As the ground-level searches ramped up, police sources told the Guardian that the operation was likely to be widened this week. The attorney general's office in Lisbon was on Tuesday considering a Scotland Yard request to carry out searches in two other areas.As the ground-level searches ramped up, police sources told the Guardian that the operation was likely to be widened this week. The attorney general's office in Lisbon was on Tuesday considering a Scotland Yard request to carry out searches in two other areas.
However, it is understood that the searches will be wound down on Friday if officers fail to make a significant discovery.However, it is understood that the searches will be wound down on Friday if officers fail to make a significant discovery.
Wednesday is the third day of the renewed search effort, launched seven years after Madeleine disappeared while her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, dined with friends at a nearby tapas restaurant.Wednesday is the third day of the renewed search effort, launched seven years after Madeleine disappeared while her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, dined with friends at a nearby tapas restaurant.
Redwood, the investigator leading the operation, looked on from a hilltop as uniformed officers got on their hands and knees to carry out painstaking fingertip searches in the scrubland, which has been cordoned off under a 24-hour police guard since Monday.Redwood, the investigator leading the operation, looked on from a hilltop as uniformed officers got on their hands and knees to carry out painstaking fingertip searches in the scrubland, which has been cordoned off under a 24-hour police guard since Monday.
Madeleine's parents, from Rothley in Leicestershire, are being kept abreast of any important developments as the search continues this week.Madeleine's parents, from Rothley in Leicestershire, are being kept abreast of any important developments as the search continues this week.