Portuguese detectives are investigating a foreign pedophile as a suspect in the abduction of Madeleine McCann, according to reports. Scotland Yard passed information to Portuguese police about the apparent kidnap suspect, who was in Portugal in May 2007, the Lisbon-based Expresso newspaper reported. The man had been investigated over alleged child sex offences at the time, according to the paper, which quoted a judicial source. The reports come on the 12th anniversary of Madeleine's disappearance as her mother Kate attended an emotional prayer vigil at her home village in Rothley, Leicestershire, marking the occasion. Madeleine's father Gerry, a heart doctor, was reportedly in Italy on work business as Kate and her twins Sean and Amelie attended the service at a local Baptist church. The girl was three when she vanished while on holiday with her parents in Praia da Luz on the Algarve coast on May 3 2007. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick said on Thursday the force was pursuing "active lines of inquiry" and has asked for more funding from the Home Office. British police launched their own investigation, Operation Grange, in 2013 after a Portuguese inquiry failed to make progress. Madeleine's parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, both doctors and devout Catholics, have always pledged never to give up the search for their daughter. In a statement on Friday, the 12th anniversary of her disappearance, 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."<doc-sep>It's been 10 years since Madeleine McCann vanished without a trace, yet the world remains captivated. The big question is, why? Delve into the compelling unsolved mystery, retrace the facts and decide. It's been 10 years since Madeleine McCann vanished without a trace, yet the world remains captivated. The big question is, why? Delve into the compelling unsolved mystery, ret... Portuguese police are believed to be working on information received from Scotland Yard about a foreign alleged “paedophile” in connection with the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. A judicial source is claimed to be saying the unnamed man was in Portugal when Maddie disappeared, The Sun reports. The source claimed he was known to Portuguese police and had been investigated on suspicion of involvement in paedophile cases. His nationality was not revealed. The Portuguese news website Expresso, reacting to news the PJ had a “new suspect” published earlier today by Portuguese tabloid Correio da Manha, said: “The PJ is following a tip received from Scotland Yard and sent recently to Portugal relating to the Madeleine McCann case, Expresso has learned from a judicial source. “According to the source, it relates to a complaint made about a foreigner who was in Portugal in May 2007, when the English girl disappeared from a tourist complex in Praia da Luz. “The suspect is no stranger to Portuguese police. At the time the PJ investigated him on suspicion of being involved in cases of paedophilia but in light of the information coming from London, the investigators are looking into this case in more detail.” ‘THE SUSPECT IS NO STRANGER TO PORTUGUESE POLICE’ The source told the website: “This is a line of investigation that is still open. Like others.” The PJ are already said to have spoken to witnesses who could help. Expresso also highlighted author Anthony Summers’ mention in the Netflix documentary of an English-speaking sexual predator who was active in the Praia da Luz area and had entered properties rented by British holidaymakers. In one case a girl woke up and asked, “Is that you Daddy?” and the intruder replied, “Yes” with a foreign accent. The website said it had asked the Operation Grange team in London and the PJ in Portugal about the information on the intruder aired in a final chapter of the documentary, but said it was told by both that it would not be “appropriate” at this stage to give out information. Asked this morning to comment on the latest reports in Portugal, including the Correio story about Portuguese police having a “new suspect” and “new lead,” Portugal’s Attorney-General’s office repeated an answer it gave last month to a question about whether Scotland Yard had formally requested more help via rogatory letters. A spokesman said: “Regarding these facts, as is public knowledge, an inquiry in the Portimao section of the Faro DIAP Public Prosecutors Office is ongoing. It is under investigation.” The news coincides with the 12th anniversary of Madeleine’s disappearance as the youngster’s parents vowed to carry on looking for their daughter “for as long as it takes”. Parents Kate and Gerry McCann said on their Official Find Maddie Campaign website: “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.” Three-year-old Madeleine McCann vanished during a family holiday in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in May 2007. She had been left sleeping alone with her younger twin siblings while her parents were dining in a nearby tapas restaurant with pals at the seaside complex. Yesterday it was revealed Scotland Yard has asked for more funding as it continues to follow up leads in the disappearance. British police launched their own investigation, Operation Grange, in 2013 after a Portuguese inquiry failed to make progress. Force bosses have been applying for funding from the Home Office every six months to continue the inquiry, which has cost about £11.75 million. Last November, a further £150,000 was granted and Maddie’s parents told of their delight at being given fresh hope. The article originally appeared on The Sun and is published here with permission.<doc-sep>Portuguese police have boosted their Madeleine McCann squad after identifying a foreign paedophile as a new suspect for her abduction, it is claimed. Information about the new suspect had been passed on by Scotland Yard, according to media reports in Lisbon. Portugal's Expresso news website claimed the man had already been investigated for alleged child sex offences before Madeleine vanished from her family's rented holiday apartment on the Algarve coast 12 years ago. The CmTv channel on Friday night also broadcast claims that police were investigating a new suspect and had increased the number of detectives involved in the case. It also claimed there was more than one suspect. Advertisement Image: The hunt for Madeleine continues - she would be turning 16 this month It comes as Scotland Yard doubled its usual six-monthly bid for Home Office funding, asking for £300,000 to keep its own detectives working on the case for another whole year. It's awaiting ministers' decision. The Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick said: "We have active lines of inquiry 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." Madeleine was nearly four when she vanished from the apartment as her parents and friends dined nearby in Praia da Luz on 3 May, 2007. Portuguese police abandoned their investigation after 15 months, finding no evidence of what happened to her. They reopened the investigation in 2012, before Scotland Yard was asked to investigate, too. The two forces worked separately at first, but now share information. Image: Kate and Gerry McCann believe their daughter could still be alive Madeleine's parents Kate and Gerry McCann insist their daughter could still be alive, in the absence of any evidence she has come to harm. In a statement on the 12th anniversary of her disappearance, they said: "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 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."<doc-sep>
PORTUGUESE police probing the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have a new kidnap suspect, it has been sensationally claimed. Detectives investigating the 12-year-old mystery have been given extra resources to look at a “new clue” and “new suspect”, reported Portuguese daily Correio da Manha. 5 Madeleine McCann went missing when she was just three years old Credit: PA:Press Association “Police are following new Maddie kidnap clues,” the tabloid stated today. “More inspectors are advancing with an investigation into a new suspect. "A new clue and a new suspect, which the PJ (Policia Judiciaria) are trying to keep an absolute secret, has led to new resources being put in place to investigate the little girl’s whereabouts." Prosecutors have reportedly refused to reveal any more details as they said the new probe was now "active." Police in Porto are now said to be looking into the credibility of the new information. The paper said the new line of inquiry did not focus on the McCanns who were briefly made arguidos - official suspects - in 2007 before that status was removed. The paper also claimed: “Portuguese police admit to being nearer to knowing what happened to Madeleine McCann”. However it added the authorities had “many doubts” she was still alive. There was no immediate official response in Portugal to today’s report, which coincides with the 12th anniversary of Madeleine’s disappearance. Today's news comes as the youngster's parents vowed to carry on looking for their daughter "for as long as it takes". 5 The McCanns today said they will carry on looking for Maddie for as long as it takes On the Official Find Maddie Campaign website the couple from Rothley, Leicestershire, jointly state: "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 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." Three-year-old Madeleine McCann vanished during a family holiday in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in May 2007. She had been left sleeping alone with her younger twin siblings while her parents were dining in a nearby tapas restaurant with pals at the seaside complex. Yesterday it was revealed Scotland Yard has asked for more funding as it continues to follow up leads in the disappearance. British police launched their own investigation, Operation Grange, in 2013 after a Portuguese inquiry failed to make progress. Force bosses have been applying for funding from the Home Office every six months to continue the inquiry, which has cost about £11.75 million. Last November, a further £150,000 was granted and Maddie's parents told of their delight at being given fresh hope. 5 Madeleine's parents Kate and Gerry McCann have vowed to continue searching for their daughter Credit: Getty - Contributor 5 Madeleine McCann vanished from the apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in 2007 Credit: Darren Fletcher - The Sun 5 So far £11.6million has been spent on the 12-year search for missing Maddie Credit: PA:Press Association