German authorities prepare for a new search operation at Barragem do Arade reservoir, with Christian Brueckner, the prime suspect, having frequented the area.

The investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann is set to take a significant step forward with a renewed search at a reservoir in Portugal, according to reports. Authorities are focusing on the Barragem do Arade reservoir, located approximately 50 kilometres from Praia da Luz, where the three-year-old vanished in 2007. Police have sealed off the area as German investigators prepare to begin their search on Tuesday.

The prime suspect in the case, convicted sex offender Christian Brueckner, is believed to have frequented the region between 2000 and 2017, heightening suspicion around the site. Investigators are looking into the possibility that Brueckner abducted and murdered Madeleine shortly after she disappeared from her family’s holiday apartment. Brueckner, who has denied any involvement in the case, was formally identified as a suspect in June 2020. He is currently facing separate charges in Germany related to sex offences allegedly committed in Portugal during the same period.

The search operation is being conducted with the cooperation of both Portuguese and British police officers, as well as German authorities. Although German officials have yet to comment, it is expected that they will release a brief statement regarding the search’s progress on Tuesday morning.

This is not the first time the Barragem do Arade reservoir has been searched. In 2008, Portuguese lawyer Marcos Aragao Correia funded a diving operation after he claimed he had received information suggesting Madeleine’s body might be in the reservoir. The most recent search in Portugal was carried out in 2014, when British police examined scrubland near the location where Madeleine was last seen.

Earlier this month, Madeleine’s parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, marked the 16th anniversary of their daughter’s disappearance with a statement on the Find Madeleine Campaign website. In their message, they said, “Today marks the 16th anniversary of Madeleine’s abduction. Still missing… still very much missed. It is hard to find the words to convey how we feel. The police investigation continues, and we await a breakthrough.”

A man who breached Vatican City’s gate and was fired upon is now receiving psychiatric treatment in a nearby hospital.

A man who forcibly entered Vatican City by driving through one of its gates was taken for psychiatric care at a local hospital on Friday after undergoing a brief interrogation. The Vatican confirmed that the man, whose identity has not been disclosed, was transported to the psychiatric ward at the Santo Spirito in Sassia hospital after spending the night at the Vatican police barracks.

The incident occurred on Thursday evening when the man, in his 40s, attempted to drive through the Santa Anna gate after being denied entry by the Swiss Guards. Despite being shot at by Vatican gendarmes who targeted his vehicle’s tyres, he continued to accelerate and only halted once he reached the Apostolic Palace courtyard, where he was apprehended.

The Vatican described the man as appearing agitated during the arrest. After a preliminary interrogation with a lawyer present, it was determined that he required compulsory psychiatric care. He was subsequently sent to the psychiatric ward for treatment.

Although his motivations remain unclear, the area around the hotel where Pope Francis resides was secured, and the internal gates leading to the piazza were closed. At the time of the breach, it is believed that the pope was staying at the Santa Marta hotel.

This rare intrusion into the highly restricted Vatican City, a place largely off-limits to the public, particularly after dark, highlights the unusual nature of the incident. Visitors may access the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Basilica and museums, but access to other areas of the city-state requires special permission.

Operation Sceptre aims to reduce knife-related violence through targeted policing and community collaboration.

The father of a young man fatally stabbed during a failed mugging has shared his ongoing grief, describing the loss of his son as “never ending,” as police in England and Wales launch a major crackdown on knife crime.

Cliff Marcus, whose 22-year-old son Leo was killed in 2019, reflected on the impact of the tragedy on his family. “You spend 22 years raising someone, and then they’re suddenly gone. It leaves a void that can’t be filled,” said Marcus, 57, from Woolwich, south-east London. “When I heard Leo had died, my heart broke. I often speak to his picture on my fireplace.”

Leo’s death continues to ripple through the family. “This one act has affected 80 to 90 people in my family alone,” Marcus said. “The pain never ends.”

His remarks coincide with Operation Sceptre, an annual police initiative targeting knife crime through increased patrols, stop-and-search operations, and weapon sweeps. On Thursday, Marcus accompanied officers in Croydon, an area long plagued by knife-related violence.

Neighbourhood policing superintendent Mitch Carr emphasised the significance of the campaign. “Croydon has faced gang-related issues for years. While there hasn’t been a knife-related murder here in over a year, public concern remains high,” Carr said.

Once labelled London’s knife crime capital, Croydon recorded five teenage murders in 2021, contributing to a citywide total of 30. Between 2019 and 2021, the borough experienced 141 incidents of teenage violence, the highest in London.

However, police data shows progress. Knife crime offences in Croydon dropped by 22%, from 11,969 incidents in 2021 to 6,843 in the year ending November 2022. Despite these gains, acting sergeant Jack Fordham highlighted ongoing challenges. “West Croydon remains a hotspot for robberies and knife crime. This operation is about showing the community we’re here and taking action.”

Anthony King, a youth worker and chair of the My Ends project, also joined the operation. The initiative connects young people, local police, and schools to tackle violence collaboratively.

“We’re working closely with the police to rebuild trust and reduce fear among young people,” King said. “Partnerships like these are helping to restore confidence and curb serious violent crime.”