British police commence ground searches and digs in Praia da Luz.

[a.baker]

British police arrive at scrubland site 300 yards from Praia da Luz apartment to start digging as part of investigation for missing Madeleine McCann

• Officers are guarding hilltop in Praia da Luz where groundwork starts today
• Site is 300 metres from apartment where Madeleine disappeared in May 2007
• Scotland Yard detectives have arrived in Portugal to oversee excavation
• Up to a dozen British officers have been surveying land that overlooks sea
• Radar and digging machinery will be used to try to find out if she is hidden
• A number of tents have been erected on the 15 acre site on edge of resort

Scotland Yard detectives searching for Madeleine McCann have today been surveying wasteland in Portugal where police plan to start digging.  The site is 300 yards from the Praia da Luz apartment she vanished from and close to where a suspect was seen with a girl in his arms on the night she was abducted in May 2007.  The extensive groundwork, using radar equipment and mechanical diggers, is the most significant police activity in years as part of renewed work to finally solve the mystery of Madeleine's disappearance.



Scotland Yard detectives arrived in Portugal late last night ahead of excavations and were driven in five vans to a hill overlooking the Atlantic, before unpacking large amounts of equipment.  Sources told MailOnline the groundwork has started but all of it will be carried out inside tents that are being put up all over the site.

More...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2645906/Police-hunting-Madeleine-McCann-seal-land-Portugal-prepare-start-digging.html

[VIXTE]

They have GNR dogs! One German Shepherd and one Rottweiler

[Carana]

They have GNR dogs! One German Shepherd and one Rottweiler

Erm.... they might be to keep the press at bay. ;)

[jassi]

I'm sure I read in one of the papers today that they intended using rescue dogs. Can they detect cadaver scent  ?

[John]

I'm sure I read in one of the papers today that they intended using rescue dogs. Can they detect cadaver scent  ?

There are many different types of dogs all trained to do a variety of tasks so it is impossible to differentiate between them.

[carlymichelle]

theres 2  tents been  seen what does that  mean??

[slartibartfast]

theres 2  tents been  seen what does that  mean??

They are too intense....

[icabodcrane]

theres 2  tents been  seen what does that  mean??

Could it mean they've found something  ?

I thought the police put tents up to protect a crime scene

[jassi]

According to the DM, all digging will take place inside the tents.

This would suggest that they have some pretty specific targets in mind.

[Silkywhiskers]

They are too intense....

bwahahahahhaha


Seriously I counted NINE separate officers in one picture alone, yet Team McCann STILL insist it's just a shot in the dark.

No police force in the world sends at least 9 specialists to a foreign country, to dig for a sign of a missing child, on a WHIM.

[Eleanor]

I'm sure I read in one of the papers today that they intended using rescue dogs. Can they detect cadaver scent  ?

Eddie was a Rescue Dog.  Or a Victim Recovery Dog.

All dogs can detect Cadaver Scent.  But so can humans.  Dogs just do it sooner.  All dogs, that is.

[colombosstogey]

Somebody went to a lot of trouble to take Madeleine & foil the search. In the circumstances it is highly unlikely she has been buried anywhere near the original crime scene if she is indeed dead, unless someone planned for her body to be found at a later date.

Thats the thing though isnt it why?

Its 300 yards away. The child was taken around 9pm when did this person get time to bury a child in the scrubland?

It wasnt so scrubby then from earlier photos so when all the locals who walked this area extensively and the dogs were used to sniff for a missing child nothing was found.

As its so close to activity even if someone went back much later even weeks wouldnt they have been noticed?

If i had taken the child as a pedophile why bury the child, most are taken and just left to be found sadly dead.

The did dig Ben Needhams old home but found nothing.

I really do hope some how she is found and then everyone can get closure.

But not sure its going to be here....

Some how.

[Silkywhiskers]

The area is 5 acres.

This is quite significant, much larger than what I had originally thought.

How long did she need to be "hidden" for?

Until the PJ arrived, which was not until 1am or so.

Madeleine could have been hidden in a bin temporarily, then moved after the first rush of searchers.

People were looking for a LIVE child, even the PJ.

[jassi]

Eddie was a Rescue Dog.  Or a Victim Recovery Dog.

All dogs can detect Cadaver Scent.  But so can humans.  Dogs just do it sooner.  All dogs, that is.

Now you come to mention it, I suppose they can.

[pathfinder73]

WHY they're digging there is the question. They're not digging there because it looks like a good spot to hide a body.