Police not reopening McCann case

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Portuguese authorities say nothing that has emerged in recent days justifies reopening their investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.

This comes after it was revealed that a British paedophile had been identified as a "person of interest" by the McCann family's private investigators.

The Portuguese authorities said there had been no "concrete and credible facts" to justify reopening the case.

Madeleine, then three, vanished from an Algarve holiday apartment in May 2007.

The Portuguese police are no longer actively investigating the case, but the McCanns, of Rothley, Leicestershire, are conducting a private investigation.

In a brief written statement to the BBC, the office of Portugal's attorney general said that "the case will be reopened if and when concrete and credible facts exist that justify it, which until now has not yet happened".

Clarence Mitchell, spokesman for parents Gerry and Kate McCann, has said the interest in Briton Raymond Hewlett is just "one line of inquiry" in the private investigation.

Mr Mitchell said he understood Hewlett had been living about an hour from Praia de Luz, where Madeleine disappeared on 3 May 2007.

West Yorkshire Police have confirmed they are seeking Hewlett in connection with an indecent assault in 1975.

Reports say the 64-year-old is being treated for throat cancer in Germany.