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Madeleine McCann inquiry: Police finish questioning | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Questioning of four suspects in the Madeleine McCann investigation has concluded without any new developments, a source has told the BBC. | |
The source close to the inquiry played down the significance of the interviews with suspects in Portugal on Tuesday. | |
Portuguese detectives in Faro were observed during the questioning by officers from the Met Police, which is carrying out its own investigation. | |
Madeleine disappeared aged three in the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz in 2007. | |
The source told the BBC: "Questioning of the four suspects was concluded yesterday evening. Unfortunately the interviews have led to no new developments and we are back where we were seven years ago." | |
The source added: "The 'arguido' [suspect] status was given to the suspects to protect them. It gives them legal rights including the right to remain silent and to have a lawyer present during interviews. | |
"They ware declared arguido due to being identified as suspects in a letter of international request sent by the British to the Portuguese authorities." | |
No arrests | No arrests |
Police have begun the process of speaking to 11 witnesses. These interviews also relate to official requests from the Metropolitan Police. | |
The source indicated that two tracker dogs from the UK could be used in searching a vehicle thought to belong to one of the witnesses. No time or location was given for this. | |
One of the four "persons of interest" - or arguidos - questioned was Sergey Malinka. He has always denied any involvement. | |
Mr Malinka, a Russian-born website designer with Portuguese nationality, was questioned as a witness in 2007 when Madeleine went missing. | |
On Tuesday Mr Malinka and another suspect left the central police station in Faro after they were interviewed. | |
A third person, who is said to be suffering from severe schizophrenia, remained in the police headquarters on after the other two had left. | |
All of those being questioned are Portuguese citizens. They have all been summoned to be interviewed; there have been no arrests. | All of those being questioned are Portuguese citizens. They have all been summoned to be interviewed; there have been no arrests. |
The status of arguidos in the Portuguese judicial system refers to individuals whom police may reasonably suspect are linked to a crime. | The status of arguidos in the Portuguese judicial system refers to individuals whom police may reasonably suspect are linked to a crime. |
In June, Portuguese and British officers searched three sites in Praia da Luz but found no evidence relating to the case. | In June, Portuguese and British officers searched three sites in Praia da Luz but found no evidence relating to the case. |
Scotland Yard said at the time that "more activity" had been agreed with Portuguese police and the searches were the "first phase" of a major investigation. | Scotland Yard said at the time that "more activity" had been agreed with Portuguese police and the searches were the "first phase" of a major investigation. |
The McCann family - from Rothley, Leicestershire - were staying in an apartment in the resort of Praia da Luz in Portugal when three-year-old Madeleine was last seen. | The McCann family - from Rothley, Leicestershire - were staying in an apartment in the resort of Praia da Luz in Portugal when three-year-old Madeleine was last seen. |
Her parents had been at a restaurant near their apartment when she went missing. | Her parents had been at a restaurant near their apartment when she went missing. |