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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Madeleine McCann case: Portuguese police reopen inquiry | Madeleine McCann case: Portuguese police reopen inquiry |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Portuguese police have reopened their inquiry into the disappearance of British girl Madeleine McCann, the public prosecutor's office has said. | Portuguese police have reopened their inquiry into the disappearance of British girl Madeleine McCann, the public prosecutor's office has said. |
| Madeleine, from Leicestershire, was three when she disappeared from Praia da Luz in the Algarve in May 2007. | Madeleine, from Leicestershire, was three when she disappeared from Praia da Luz in the Algarve in May 2007. |
| Portugal's attorney general said "new elements of evidence" justified the "continuation of the investigation", which was shelved by police in 2008. | Portugal's attorney general said "new elements of evidence" justified the "continuation of the investigation", which was shelved by police in 2008. |
| Madeleine's parents said they hoped for "the answers we so desperately need". | Madeleine's parents said they hoped for "the answers we so desperately need". |
| Scotland Yard began a review of the case in May 2011 - codenamed Operation Grange - and opened a formal investigation in July this year. | Scotland Yard began a review of the case in May 2011 - codenamed Operation Grange - and opened a formal investigation in July this year. |
| Portuguese police said a review team had been working since March 2011 to look back through information from the original investigation - and this process had uncovered potential new lines of inquiry. | Portuguese police said a review team had been working since March 2011 to look back through information from the original investigation - and this process had uncovered potential new lines of inquiry. |
| 'Best opportunity' | 'Best opportunity' |
| The decision comes after Scotland Yard said at a briefing earlier this year that the Portuguese inquiry would not be re-opened until judges there were convinced there were solid grounds to do so. | The decision comes after Scotland Yard said at a briefing earlier this year that the Portuguese inquiry would not be re-opened until judges there were convinced there were solid grounds to do so. |
| It would appear that this decision is highly significant, BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said. | It would appear that this decision is highly significant, BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said. |
| Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley and Det Ch Insp Andy Redwood met senior Portuguese police in Lisbon last Thursday for a briefing on the new lines of enquiry, which are "separate" to those being followed by the Met. | Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley and Det Ch Insp Andy Redwood met senior Portuguese police in Lisbon last Thursday for a briefing on the new lines of enquiry, which are "separate" to those being followed by the Met. |
| Madeleine's parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, were also briefed on the case during the meeting. | Madeleine's parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, were also briefed on the case during the meeting. |
| They said they were "very pleased" the Portuguese inquiry, which will run alongside the Met operation, was being reopened. | |
| "We hope that this will finally lead to her being found and to the discovery of whoever is responsible for this crime," they said. | "We hope that this will finally lead to her being found and to the discovery of whoever is responsible for this crime," they said. |
| "We once again urge any member of the public who may have information relating to Madeleine's abduction to contact the police in Portugal or the UK." | "We once again urge any member of the public who may have information relating to Madeleine's abduction to contact the police in Portugal or the UK." |
| Mr Rowley, assistant commissioner for specialist crime and operations, said the meeting was "very positive" and both forces had a "shared determination" to solve the case. | Mr Rowley, assistant commissioner for specialist crime and operations, said the meeting was "very positive" and both forces had a "shared determination" to solve the case. |
| "I believe that we have the best opportunity yet to finally understand what happened to Madeleine," he said. | "I believe that we have the best opportunity yet to finally understand what happened to Madeleine," he said. |
| UK Home Secretary Theresa May welcomed the development, saying: "I I hope what we are going to see is a resolution of this case for the sake of Maddie's parents and family." | UK Home Secretary Theresa May welcomed the development, saying: "I I hope what we are going to see is a resolution of this case for the sake of Maddie's parents and family." |
| Thursday 3 May 2007: Timeline | Thursday 3 May 2007: Timeline |
| Clickable map and timeline | Clickable map and timeline |
| Madeleine went missing from her family's holiday apartment on 3 May 2007, as her parents dined with friends at a nearby tapas bar. | Madeleine went missing from her family's holiday apartment on 3 May 2007, as her parents dined with friends at a nearby tapas bar. |
| The three-year-old and her brother and sister were left in the apartment at 20:30, with their father checking on them at 21:05. | The three-year-old and her brother and sister were left in the apartment at 20:30, with their father checking on them at 21:05. |
| Mrs McCann raised the alarm at 22:00 when she realised Madeleine was gone. | Mrs McCann raised the alarm at 22:00 when she realised Madeleine was gone. |
| Since then there has been much speculation about what happened to the youngster. | Since then there has been much speculation about what happened to the youngster. |
| A Met Police appeal launched on BBC Crimewatch last week prompted 2,400 responses. | A Met Police appeal launched on BBC Crimewatch last week prompted 2,400 responses. |
| Met detectives also released two e-fits of a man seen carrying a child in Praia da Luz at 22:00 on the night Madeleine went missing and it was revealed that they now suspected Madeleine could have been taken later than previously thought - just before her mother returned to the apartment to check on her. | Met detectives also released two e-fits of a man seen carrying a child in Praia da Luz at 22:00 on the night Madeleine went missing and it was revealed that they now suspected Madeleine could have been taken later than previously thought - just before her mother returned to the apartment to check on her. |
| The Met are offering a £20,000 reward for information. | The Met are offering a £20,000 reward for information. |
| They say their inquiries have led to the new timeline and "accepted version of events" surrounding Madeleine's disappearance being significantly changed. | They say their inquiries have led to the new timeline and "accepted version of events" surrounding Madeleine's disappearance being significantly changed. |
| Det Ch Insp Andy Redwood said further appeals on similar programmes in the Netherlands and Germany had led to hundreds of calls. | Det Ch Insp Andy Redwood said further appeals on similar programmes in the Netherlands and Germany had led to hundreds of calls. |
| The next stage of the appeal will be in Ireland later this month. | The next stage of the appeal will be in Ireland later this month. |
| On Wednesday, Met Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe defended the way Portuguese police had handled the initial investigation into Madeleine's disappearance. | On Wednesday, Met Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe defended the way Portuguese police had handled the initial investigation into Madeleine's disappearance. |
| "I'm sure for them that must have been a challenge. Anybody can go back after two, three, five, six years and say 'why didn't you do that'? That's easy in hindsight," he said. | "I'm sure for them that must have been a challenge. Anybody can go back after two, three, five, six years and say 'why didn't you do that'? That's easy in hindsight," he said. |