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News

Madeleine McCann - police pursue new leads

30 replies

MrsMeg · 04/07/2013 14:45

I know that threads about her disappearance have been done to death in the past but the latest news (on BBC website) suggests that the police are now following fresh new leads and are hoping for more cooperation from the Portugeuse authorities.

A statement from the police says that "We continue to believe that there is a possibility that Madeleine is alive"

They are currently investigating 38 'persons of interest' including 12 Britons although none of the family or friends who travelled with the family are suspects.

It is extraordinary to think that she may still be found alive but it's almost as if people are wary of discussing it as her disappearance generated such a polarisation of public opinion!

OP posts:

Report

HeySoulSister · 04/07/2013 14:47

This isn't new news really is it? I saw it online as 'breaking news'

MrsMeg · 04/07/2013 14:50

How new do you want your news?

I don't watch the news or read the papers - I just check in to the BBC site on my phone from time to time and first time I saw it

OP posts:

meditrina · 04/07/2013 14:51

It's news because it marks the move between the review, which had been started some time ago, and the launching of an actual investigation (which is happening now).

MrsSalvoMontalbano · 04/07/2013 15:52

Al very well, but if they think she is being held somewhere why do they announce this??? Surely dangerous for her - if they have leads to her whereabouts why not just go to that place?

HeySoulSister · 04/07/2013 16:52

doubt they even have leads anyway

Sparklingbrook · 04/07/2013 16:54

It always puzzles me why they announce new leads just go and look like MrsSalvo says.
I would dearly love that little girl to be found.

Lighthousekeeping · 04/07/2013 16:55

It never sat right how public this investigation was from day one. Why aren't things kept quietly and leads followed without the publicity? Surely if you thought the whole world was on to you then you'd do something about it?

MrsSalvoMontalbano · 04/07/2013 17:33

Must be hell for the parents . Very frustrating how slowly the investigation goes, when a little girl is growing up without them

Sparklingbrook · 04/07/2013 17:44

You can see the pain and agony in Kate McCann's face. It must be torturous.

wannaBe · 04/07/2013 17:51

I remember when I first came home from South Africa there used to be a piece on the news from time to time about how Ben Needham was thought to have been spotted, there would be "fresh" leads, someone would be interviewed on gmtv and then it would disappear off the news again.

I have no idea why they always spout the stuff about "possibility she could still be alive," etc, I think it just makes more of a headline if they say they have new leads and she could still be alive. But I can't imagine anyone seriously believes that she is. And even if by some miracle she was, she wouldn't remember any of her family any more anyway, so returning to them would be as traumatic as being removed.

noddyholder · 04/07/2013 17:54

Do Scotland Yard usually reveal so much info re potential leads? They have spent millions going through the files in Portugal so must have found something in them to make them bring it here to re open it. They should just get on with searching for these people rather than telling the press imo

MrsSalvoMontalbano · 04/07/2013 17:57

noddy indeed, very puzzling. Why not just get on with the investigation, like myriads of others they are presumably pursuing in the normal course of police work, that we the public don't need to know about - why make a statement about this one???

Lighthousekeeping · 04/07/2013 18:00

They've made statements about everything from day one. I don't get their thinking behind it at all.

noddyholder · 04/07/2013 18:02

Also saying that the McCann's and their friends aren't included in the 12/38 seems strange as they are the last people who saw her and were there that night.

Chipstick10 · 04/07/2013 20:11

Whitewash.

noddyholder · 04/07/2013 20:25

An investigation of this type on British soil when it didn't happen here is apparently unprecedented. Why they didn't just investigate the persons of interest and then make an announcement if they uncover new evidence which may lead to a trial I don't see the point of today's info.

Chipstick10 · 04/07/2013 20:36

Whilst my sympathy lies with Madeleine there are many many children who go missing, Ben needham for one. David Cameron gave the green light and money for Scotland Yard to investigate and you are right noddy it is unprecedented. I can't understand why.

lalalonglegs · 04/07/2013 20:55

I suppose the announcements are to encourage people who may have information but, for whatever reason, haven't shared it, to come forward. If Madeleine is alive, there could be a teacher or neighbour who has always wondered about the sudden appearance of this child on their street/at their school, never thought her "parents'" story quite stood up and it might trigger something to make them tie the two events together. It is a long shot but, with very little to go on, keeping the story out there does give them options.

Further, I should think it is a way of justifying the vast amounts of money that have been given to the investigation.

Blu · 04/07/2013 21:03

WannaBe - would you say that about he women kept captive in Ohio? That return would be traumatic, and imply that if she is alive you might as well let sleeping dogs lie?

The Portuguese Investigation was botched. The Met say they have examined the case afesh, with the agreement and co-operation of the Portuguese. They have 38 people they would like to interview. On what grounds should they not bother to interview these people?

bkgirl · 04/07/2013 22:13

I agree Blu and whats more this just doesn't benefit poor little Maddie. The police are discovering real pedophille networks and have the chance to save other children. Thing is my daughter is the same age as Maddie and both she and her friends are really interested in any developments though we have to be so careful since some discussions are just not suitable. I really hope she is living happily somewhere safe with a deluded family and can be found soon.

Thisisaeuphemism · 04/07/2013 22:16

I think it further demonstrates how appalling the Portuguese police were, both at the time, and after.

Blu · 04/07/2013 22:44

I dread to think what characterises the 'persons of interest' that the Met have identified as having been in the area of Portugal at the time.

noddyholder · 04/07/2013 23:38

I don't think te portuguese police were appalling. It was the uk police who went over and suggested they bring dogs which led the investigation down the road which implicated the parents. I think it does need to be tied up though and hopefully they have enough now todo that . Must be hard frbtevparents of other missing children who don't get the same level of interest/funding

Chipstick10 · 04/07/2013 23:49

Carole Malone doesn't seem too impressed. I'd love to sit down and have a natter with her.

noddyholder · 04/07/2013 23:54

Tomorrows headlines are so misleading compared to what police actually said.

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