This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33684634
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Madeleine McCann detectives contact Australian police after body find | |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| Police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have contacted authorities in Australia following the discovery of a girl's remains in a suitcase, Scotland Yard has said. | Police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have contacted authorities in Australia following the discovery of a girl's remains in a suitcase, Scotland Yard has said. |
| The remains of a girl, aged between two and four, were found next to a motorway near Adelaide earlier this month. | The remains of a girl, aged between two and four, were found next to a motorway near Adelaide earlier this month. |
| The Met said it was "aware of reports" and had made contact with authorities. | The Met said it was "aware of reports" and had made contact with authorities. |
| Australian Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said there was "no evidence" the body was Madeleine's. | Australian Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said there was "no evidence" the body was Madeleine's. |
| Madeleine was aged three when she went missing from her family's holiday apartment in Praia de Luz, in Portugal's Algarve, in May 2007. | Madeleine was aged three when she went missing from her family's holiday apartment in Praia de Luz, in Portugal's Algarve, in May 2007. |
| Reports in Australia suggest the decomposed body was that of a young girl - believed to be fair-haired - who was killed at least as long ago as 2007. | Reports in Australia suggest the decomposed body was that of a young girl - believed to be fair-haired - who was killed at least as long ago as 2007. |
| The remains were discovered in a suitcase next to a remote motorway in Wynarka, in South Australia, earlier this month, local police said. | The remains were discovered in a suitcase next to a remote motorway in Wynarka, in South Australia, earlier this month, local police said. |
| 'Purely speculating' | 'Purely speculating' |
| Australian authorities have so far been unable to identify the girl. | Australian authorities have so far been unable to identify the girl. |
| However, Mr Stevens told a parliamentary estimates committee hearing: "There is absolutely no evidence at this point in time that the child is Madeleine McCann. | |
| "To suggest something like that at this point in time would purely be speculating to get attention. | |
| "We are focusing our inquiries on South Australia but we would be considering any potential missing child. | "We are focusing our inquiries on South Australia but we would be considering any potential missing child. |
| "Until we ascertain the identity of the child we need to be open to all possibilities." | "Until we ascertain the identity of the child we need to be open to all possibilities." |
| Last year, detectives from London flew to the Algarve to assist with searching scrubland near the resort where Madeleine disappeared. They did not uncover any evidence. | Last year, detectives from London flew to the Algarve to assist with searching scrubland near the resort where Madeleine disappeared. They did not uncover any evidence. |
| Portuguese police questioned 11 people as part of their investigation. | Portuguese police questioned 11 people as part of their investigation. |
| The Met's Operation Grange was set up in 2011 after Prime Minister David Cameron asked the force to "bring their expertise" to the inquiry following a request from Kate and Gerry McCann, Madeleine's parents, who are from Rothley, Leicestershire. | The Met's Operation Grange was set up in 2011 after Prime Minister David Cameron asked the force to "bring their expertise" to the inquiry following a request from Kate and Gerry McCann, Madeleine's parents, who are from Rothley, Leicestershire. |