A team of detectives investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann is expected to fly to Portugal “in the coming weeks” to explore new leads.
Scotland Yard is awaiting approval from the Portuguese authorities after British Home Secretary Theresa May requested permission for British police to carry out further investigations.
This latest development was revealed last week by Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe.
The announcement followed the Yard’s Operation Grange which identified 38 potential suspects from five countries, including 12 Britons.
A Scotland Yard team is hoping to carry out a joint inquiry with Portuguese police in a bid to solve the mystery.
As part of the review, officers from the 30-strong squad travelled to Portugal 16 times to discuss evidence and the potential for new inquiries.
Detective Chief Inspector Andy Redwood said: “The review has given us new thinking, new theories, new evidence and new witnesses. We remain committed to finding out what happened to Madeleine. Everything we do is utterly focused on her best interests.”
Madeleine went missing in 2007 at an Algarve resort in Praia da Luz, where she was staying on holiday with her family.
