This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/7546729.stm
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Madeleine case 'lead' played down | Madeleine case 'lead' played down |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Police sources have played down the significance of an intelligence report suggesting Madeleine McCann might have been kidnapped by a paedophile ring. | Police sources have played down the significance of an intelligence report suggesting Madeleine McCann might have been kidnapped by a paedophile ring. |
The Metropolitan Police got a tip-off from an informant earlier this year and passed it onto Portuguese counterparts. | The Metropolitan Police got a tip-off from an informant earlier this year and passed it onto Portuguese counterparts. |
That line of inquiry was one of thousands of leads detailed in Portuguese files on the disappearance. | That line of inquiry was one of thousands of leads detailed in Portuguese files on the disappearance. |
It will be followed up by the McCanns' private investigators who are looking at 11,000 pages of evidence. | It will be followed up by the McCanns' private investigators who are looking at 11,000 pages of evidence. |
The Metropolitan Police received the tip-off in March this year - 10 months after Madeleine's disappearance, aged three, in May 2007 while on holiday in the Algarve. | The Metropolitan Police received the tip-off in March this year - 10 months after Madeleine's disappearance, aged three, in May 2007 while on holiday in the Algarve. |
Lack of detail | Lack of detail |
An anonymous caller claimed that a Belgian paedophile ring had placed an order for a young girl - and that Madeleine was kidnapped in Portugal three days later after a paedophile had 'approved' a photograph taken secretly during the child's holiday. | An anonymous caller claimed that a Belgian paedophile ring had placed an order for a young girl - and that Madeleine was kidnapped in Portugal three days later after a paedophile had 'approved' a photograph taken secretly during the child's holiday. |
That information was passed on to Portuguese investigators who, in turn, sought the help of the Belgian police. | That information was passed on to Portuguese investigators who, in turn, sought the help of the Belgian police. |
Faxes and e-mails in the police files suggest that officers in all three countries found it difficult to pursue the lead because of a lack of detailed information. | Faxes and e-mails in the police files suggest that officers in all three countries found it difficult to pursue the lead because of a lack of detailed information. |
Metropolitan Police sources have played down the line of inquiry, stressing that the intelligence was second- or even third-hand and impossible to corroborate. | Metropolitan Police sources have played down the line of inquiry, stressing that the intelligence was second- or even third-hand and impossible to corroborate. |
A spokesman for the Belgian police told the BBC they had received dozens of calls about Madeleine - with varying degrees of credibility. | A spokesman for the Belgian police told the BBC they had received dozens of calls about Madeleine - with varying degrees of credibility. |
He added there was not a "shred of evidence" that the country was the base for an international paedophile ring. | He added there was not a "shred of evidence" that the country was the base for an international paedophile ring. |
Many sightings | Many sightings |
Family spokesman Clarence Mitchell said he could not comment on sensitive case files which were in the hands of the McCanns' private investigators. | Family spokesman Clarence Mitchell said he could not comment on sensitive case files which were in the hands of the McCanns' private investigators. |
Those files include a 14-volume annexe of reported sightings of Madeleine - from Spain to Serbia, Mexico to Indonesia. | Those files include a 14-volume annexe of reported sightings of Madeleine - from Spain to Serbia, Mexico to Indonesia. |
But Portuguese police concluded most were "of little substance and purely speculative". | But Portuguese police concluded most were "of little substance and purely speculative". |
On 21 July Portuguese prosecutors announced they were shelving the case, although it could be re-opened if credible new evidence came to light. | On 21 July Portuguese prosecutors announced they were shelving the case, although it could be re-opened if credible new evidence came to light. |
At the same time the McCanns and Algarve resident Robert Murat were told they were no longer "arguidos", or formal suspects, in the investigation. | At the same time the McCanns and Algarve resident Robert Murat were told they were no longer "arguidos", or formal suspects, in the investigation. |
They have always strongly denied having had any involvement in what happened to Madeleine. | They have always strongly denied having had any involvement in what happened to Madeleine. |
Previous version
1
Next version