Suspect reportedly charged in Germany over the disappearance of Madeleine McCann

A suspect has reportedly been charged in Germany over the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. The reports come almost 15 years after the youngster, then aged three, went missing when on holiday with her family in Portugal. The AFP News Agency said the news was confirmed by a Portuguese prosecutor.

In an announcement on Twitter this evening (April 21) the AFP News Agency wrote: "Suspect charged in Germany over Madeleine McCann disappearance: Portugal prosecutor."

Madeleine disappeared on May 3, 2007 from a holiday apartment in the Portuguese Algarve resort of Praia da Luz as her parents enjoyed a tapas meal nearby. Her parents Gerry and Kate McCann had also left their other two children, including toddler twins Sean and Amelie, sleeping in their apartment as they dined 120 metres away at the restaurant.

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Her disappearance triggered the most high-profile missing persons case in history. Portuguese police first closed the investigation in 2008, but after two years of reviewing case documents, it was reopened by the Met. The reported charge comes after Portuguese police said they would continue to investigate Maddie's disappearance as the Met Police made the move to end its investigations.

According to reports, the Met Police will be winding down its 11-year investigation later on this year. 'Operation Grange' first began four years after the Maddy vanished. Although, Portuguese police sources told The Mirror that ending their long-running case was “completely out of the question”.