Julia Wandelt, a 23-year-old Polish woman who previously claimed to be the missing Madeleine McCann, was arrested at Bristol Airport on February 19. Wandelt was detained alongside a 60-year-old woman from Wales on suspicion of stalking, with allegations of causing serious alarm and distress.
Surjit Singh Clair, Wandelt’s PR representative, confirmed the arrest after the pair arrived in the UK. Leicestershire Police traveled to Bristol to make the arrest and have since confirmed that both women remain in custody as inquiries continue.
Wandelt became widely known after she made an Instagram post in 2023 claiming to be Madeleine McCann, the British child who disappeared in Portugal in 2007 at the age of three. The disappearance of McCann remains one of the most high-profile and mysterious cases in history. Wandelt’s claim quickly drew attention, but a subsequent DNA test revealed that she is of Polish descent, with some Lithuanian and Romanian ancestry, confirming she is not Madeleine McCann.
Clair stated that Wandelt and her companion had come to the UK to visit a friend for a few weeks. He also emphasized that Wandelt denies the stalking allegations.
The case continues to attract attention, not only due to the high-profile nature of McCann’s disappearance but also because of the bizarre circumstances surrounding Wandelt’s claim and subsequent actions. Leicestershire Police are continuing to investigate the matter.
