A known paedophile has been named by UK police as the prime suspect in the Madeleine McCann case, it was claimed yesterday.
Portuguese officers are said to be “nearer” to cracking the case after British officers tipped them off about a “foreign man” who was prowling the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz when the three-year-old vanished on May 3, 2007.
It was reported that the suspect has previously been investigated over paedophile cases – but not Madeleine’s disappearance.
Respected news website Expresso said the Policia Judiciaria (PJ) are now investigating his movements.
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The suspect’s name and nationality remain a secret. It’s not clear if his whereabouts are known or even if he is still alive.
Expresso, citing a Portuguese judicial source, claimed Scotland Yard “recently” sent the tip to police in Porto.
It added: “According to the source, it relates to a complaint made about a foreigner who was in Portugal in May 2007.
“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 source told the website: “This is a line of investigation that is still open. Like others.”
Both the Policia Judiciaria and Scotland Yard refused to comment on the development, first revealed in Portugal’s Correio da Manha. The newspaper reported: “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 paper claimed police “admit to being nearer to knowing what happened to Madeleine”.
It also reported that prosecutors have “sealed” the fresh secret information because it is an “active line of investigation”.
Portuguese detectives are said to have already spoken to witnesses who could help in connection with the new lead.
Police still insist that finding Madeleine is their priority.
She disappeared from the family’s holiday apartment in Praia da Luz days before her fourth birthday.
Her parents, Kate and Gerry, left her alone with her younger twin siblings while they ate in a nearby tapas bar with friends.
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Madeleine’s kidnapping from the Ocean Club was the subject of a recent Netflix documentary. One possible suspect in the abduction is a predator who was active in the Praia da Luz area in 2007.
It was previously reported that he entered properties rented by British holidaymakers, including families with young children.
In one case, a girl woke up and asked: “Is that you, daddy?”
The intruder replied in a foreign accent: “Yes.”
Scotland Yard has a small team still working on Operation Grange, which was launched in 2013.
Last month, it asked the Home Office for extra funding so it can continue the probe for another six months.
More than 60 persons of interest have been investigated as possible suspects.
