Madeleine McCann: Portuguese police identify new suspect in ‘active’ investigation, reports say

Foreign paedophile identified by British police

Information from Scotland Yard about a foreign paedophile has reportedly prompted police in in Portugal to expand the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.

Officials have reportedly identified a man who was in Portugal in May 2007 when the toddler disappeared from her hotel room in the Praia da Luz resort on the Algarve.

The suspect had previously come under Portuguese police scrutiny, but the authorities are now pursuing “active lines of investigation” after fresh information from the UK, Portugal’s Expresso newspaper reports.

The number of detectives in the case has been increased, the country’s CMTV network claimed, adding that they were still looking at more than one suspect.

It comes after Scotland Yard asked for more funding as it continues to follow up leads in the disappearance of Madeleine, last seen while on holiday with her parents.

British police launched their own investigation, Operation Grange, in 2013 after a Portuguese inquiry failed to make progress.

The Metropolitan Police has applied for funding from the Home Office every six months to continue the inquiry, which has cost about £11.75m. Last November, a further £150,000 was granted.

Commissioner Cressida Dick confirmed the force had applied for more money this week.

She said: “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.”

There has been renewed interest in the case following an eight-part documentary series on Netflix.

Neither the Portuguese police nor Scotland Yard have commented on comments made by the British author Anthony Summers, interviewed in the documentary, who claimed a suspected sexual predator who spoke “mainly in English” was in the Algarve at the time of Madeleine’s disappearance.

Madeleine’s parents Kate and Gerry McCann condemned the Netflix series, while critics called it “exploitative” and “crass”.

They have always pledged never to give up the search for their daughter.

On the 12th anniversary of her disappearance yesterday, they said: “The months and years roll by too quickly, Madeleine will be 16 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.”