Detectives fly to Portugal to start discussing Madeleine McCann arrests

Four British detectives, along with senior officers, have flown to Portugal to potentially arrest three suspects following the Madeleine McCann cold case review. 

The Daily Mirror reported that the review pinpointed three males who are believed to have been nearby the scene from which the young child vanished in Praia da Luz in May 2007. 

In the 17 days before Madeleine vanished, there were two criminal incidents in the McCanns’ block, one burglary and one attempted burglary. 

The BBC’s Nick Beake commented: ‘‘There are reports that the British police are particularly keen to talk to three burglars who were in the area.”

Mobile phone evidence also revealed that the suspects repeatedly called one and other during the three hours when three-year-old Madeleine went missing. 

Madeleine’s parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, 45, were said to be anxious at the prospect of the progression of their missing daughter’s case. 

British officers have travelled to the Algarve various times in search of Madeleine, but the review in October, police said, uncovered enough evidence to warrant the reopening of the case. 

Reports reveal that a letter was sent to Portuguese police requesting both assistance in interviewing the three burglars believed to be at the scene, and help in tracking the suspects down. 

Following this, Andy Redwood, leading officer of Scotland Yard Police, is believed to have met with members of Portugal’s Policia Judiciaria to inquire about sanctioning the arrest of the three suspects. 

He arrived at Portuguese headquarters just after 10am for a meeting with Luis Mota Carmo, head of six Faro detectives who have been investigating the case on behalf of Scotland Yard. 

The Metropolitan Police commissioner, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, called for a renewed and combined investigation between British and Portuguese police to discover what happened to Madeleine. 

Bethany Bishop