12 years since her disappearance, investigators are still looking for clues regarding the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.
Now, police claim to be looking at a ‘new clue’ and a ‘new suspect’.
According to reports, detectives are looking into a new kidnap suspect, with judicial police being given extra resources to aid and fund their investigation.
Local media reported prosecutors have turned down a request to see material in the current case, due to ‘active lines of investigation’. While police in Porto are apparently investigating new lines of inquiry, which do not focus on the McCann parents.
According to Lisbon-based newspaper Correio da Manha, via MailOnline:
Police are following new Maddie kidnap clues.
More inspectors are advancing with an investigation into a new suspect. A new clue and a new suspect, which the PJ are trying to keep an absolute secret, has led to new resources being put in place to investigate the little girl’s whereabouts.
The development comes shortly after police considered abandoning the search for Madeleine altogether, while Netflix recently released a documentary also looking into the 12-year case.
Madeleine’s parents have, of course, vowed to carry on searching for their daughter ‘for as long as it takes’, and have spoken of the ‘comfort and reassurance’ the police investigation gives them.
Today marks the 12th anniversary of Madeleine’s disappearance.
Kate and Gerry McCann took to their Find Madeleine website to post a new message about the search for their daughter on the anniversary of her disappearance.
They wrote:
It’s that time of year again. As much as we’d like to fast forward the first couple of weeks of May, there’s no getting around it.
The months and years roll by too quickly; Madeleine will be sixteen this month. It’s impossible to put into words just how that makes us feel. There is comfort and reassurance though in knowing that the investigation continues and many people around the world remain vigilant.
Thank you to everyone who continues to support us and for your ongoing hope and belief.
For as long as it takes…
Yesterday, May 2, Metropolitan Police chief Cressida Dick confirmed the force had applied for more money from the Home Office in order to continue Operation Grange and the search for Madeleine.
She said in a statement:
We have active lines of inquiries and I think the public would expect us to see those through. A very small team continues to work on this case with Portuguese colleagues and we have put in an application to the Home Office for further funding.
Parents Kate and Gerry slammed the recent Netflix documentary, saying it was ‘potentially hindering’ the active search for their daughter.
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Charlie Cocksedge is a journalist and sub-editor at UNILAD. He graduated from the University of Manchester with an MA in Creative Writing, where he learnt how to write in the third person, before getting his NCTJ. His work has also appeared in such places as The Guardian, PN Review and the bin.