UK Police To Make Arrests In McCann Case

[icyfroth]

Police investigating the disappearance of missing British girl Madeleine McCann are planning to arrest three burglars in Portugal who were operating in the area in 2007 when the girl disappeared.

The arrests are set to come after detectives involved in Operation Grange left for Portugal on Sunday night, the Daily Mailreports.

The police are believed to be seeking three thieves — prime suspects who were identified earlier this month after phone-data analysis showed they made an unusually high number of calls to each other following the Madeline's disappearance on May 3, 2007.

Scotland Yard confirmed that the Crown Prosecution Service had sent an International Letter of Request to Portuguese police relating to the three burglars.

A spokesman for Madeline's parents, Kate and Gerry, said that while this new lead was a "significant development", it did not prove the suspects had their daughter.

"Kate and Gerry don't want to build up their hopes too high but they realise it could be a significant new lead," the spokesman said.

Link To Article

I hope the family can finally get some closure.

[purple_haize]

the link doesnt say when the letter was posted, but what has that got to do with the investigation?

[icyfroth]

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@izabsmiling wrote:

OK..thanks Icy.I thought by your OP you wanted to discuss this ?

It just seems so simple ....why wasn't it done sooner ?

Hypothetical question.

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I'm sorry, Iza, but if it wasn't in the article, I don't know, and it wasn't in my area of concern to find out.

If you want to know that fact, it's up to you to find out.

[cherry*135]

Sending a letter if request to Portugal (re the 3 burglars) doesnt mean anything substantial.

If and when Scotland Yard or Portuguese police do arrest and charge person (s ) for this crime and announce it to the public then we can believe it.

[cherry*135]

That was a good question iza. These sort of sensationalised stories dont usually provide any real detais. Probably because these gossip newspapers arent privy to any real info from the police.

[cherry*135]

Did you read the Mcanns spokesmans response icy?

'Significant development but it did not prove the suspects had their daughter.'

[cherry*135]

Newspaper headlines range from:

Three sought in questioning in relation to Madeline McCann case

to

Plans to arrest 3 burglars in hunt for Madeline.

[cherry*135]

iza wrote.. why wasn't done sooner.

The Portugal police did not investigate the mobile calls made in that area at the time of the initial investigation.

Scotland Yard has just done that recently.

[**meep**]

According to the news reports I have read and heard, the letter must have been sent recently since the Officers were preparing to fly to Portugal and the Portuguese authorities say they have not received it.

The Mirror stated that the CPS sent the request last week.

[the_great_she_elephant]

There is no mention of the chargeson which they wish to arrest these men. The men are said to be burglars; if any of their alleged victims were British Citizens, then  it is possble Scotland Yard are planning to arrest them for burglary so they have an excuse to question them about Madeleine.

[cherry*135]

If the police have requested persmission to interview the 3 suspects.. that doesn't automatically mean they will be arrested as the headline claimes, shortly fter police arrive in Portugal.

Would the police announce they are off to Portugal to arrest 3 people even if that is what is what they intend to do...announce it to the suspects as well?

Surely the police would need much more evidence than frequent mobile phone calls in that area to each other, to arrest the 3 burglars for abduction/murder? Yes, they may have been doing burglaries that night, but how does that prove they went into the McCann's apartment and abducted Madeliene?