Polish woman claiming to be Madeleine McCann arrested after arriving in the UK
19 February 2025, 21:26 | Updated: 20 February 2025, 10:17
A Polish woman who claims to be Madeleine McCann has been arrested at Bristol Airport upon arrival to the UK.
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Julia Wandelt, 23, became an internet sensation in February 2023 after posting under the account name '@IAmMadeleineMcCann' claiming to be the missing daughter of Kate and Gerry McCann.
Wandelt's representative, Surjit Singh Clair, confirmed news of the arrest to LBC saying: "I'm trying to find out what's happened but it appears Julia has been arrested at Bristol Airport this evening just after she got off the plane.
"The police have reportedly arrested her on an allegation of stalking and harassing the McCanns."
Hours later, it was confirmed she was being held on suspicion of stalking and harassing Madeleine's parents, Gerry and Kate McCann.
Ms Wandelt had flown in from Wroclaw in Poland and was due to meet a friend who lives in Cardiff.
The friend, who is believed to be in her 60s, was also arrested by police.
Recently, Ms Wendelt released her latest set of DNA test results - which she claims show she is biologically related to the toddler's father Gerry McCann.
She claimed a "world expert" has compared her DNA to the crime scene following Madeleine’s disappearance.
She alleges they also compared eyes, teeth and voice with the toddler, who went missing from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, on May 3, 2007, aged just three.
Wandelt claims her source, who she hasn’t named, believes the genetic evidence "strongly supports that Gerry McCann could be Julia Wandelt’s biological father".
The source reportedly said her DNA is a ‘perfect match’ to samples taken from the scene of Madeleine’s disappearance.