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| Madeleine mother 'to be suspect' | Madeleine mother 'to be suspect' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Kate McCann - mother of missing four-year-old Madeleine - will be formally declared a suspect by the Portuguese police, the family has said. | Kate McCann - mother of missing four-year-old Madeleine - will be formally declared a suspect by the Portuguese police, the family has said. |
| Mrs McCann has arrived for her second police interview in 24 hours. It is thought she will be made an "arguida". | Mrs McCann has arrived for her second police interview in 24 hours. It is thought she will be made an "arguida". |
| This would allow the authorities to put certain questions and give her the legal right to remain silent. | This would allow the authorities to put certain questions and give her the legal right to remain silent. |
| Gerry McCann will be questioned later. Both deny any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance on 3 May. | Gerry McCann will be questioned later. Both deny any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance on 3 May. |
| A large number of journalists and members of the public were outside the police station in Portimao, Portugal, to watch Mrs McCann arrive by car. | A large number of journalists and members of the public were outside the police station in Portimao, Portugal, to watch Mrs McCann arrive by car. |
| Looking relaxed and dressed in a white sleeve-less top and pink cardigan, she entered the building accompanied by a family friend. Mrs McCann did not speak to reporters. | Looking relaxed and dressed in a white sleeve-less top and pink cardigan, she entered the building accompanied by a family friend. Mrs McCann did not speak to reporters. |
| Her lawyer had arrived at the police station shortly before. He also refused to comment. | Her lawyer had arrived at the police station shortly before. He also refused to comment. |
| She is stunned and disappointed John Corner McCann family friend Kate McCann's anguish | She is stunned and disappointed John Corner McCann family friend Kate McCann's anguish |
| It is understood that Portuguese police have told Mrs McCann, 39, they have 22 questions they want to ask her during this interview although they have not told her what they are. | |
| A McCann family spokesman said: "Just before the session ended last night, the police made it clear they had some further questions to ask which would require her to be in arguida status rather than just witness status." | A McCann family spokesman said: "Just before the session ended last night, the police made it clear they had some further questions to ask which would require her to be in arguida status rather than just witness status." |
| The spokesman added: "She is shocked and surprised in several ways. First of all that such an accusation could be made against her. | The spokesman added: "She is shocked and surprised in several ways. First of all that such an accusation could be made against her. |
| "And obviously she is concerned that such a line of investigation can become a distraction from further attempts to find Madeleine." | "And obviously she is concerned that such a line of investigation can become a distraction from further attempts to find Madeleine." |
| Lawyer present | Lawyer present |
| Family friend John Corner, who spoke to Mrs McCann on Thursday night, said Kate thought the police believed she murdered her daughter. | Family friend John Corner, who spoke to Mrs McCann on Thursday night, said Kate thought the police believed she murdered her daughter. |
| Mr Corner, who is godfather to the couple's twins, told the Today programme: "She is stunned and disappointed. Really disappointed, not only to be at this stage a suspect but I think the realisation that they're not actually looking for Madeleine I think is almost a double whammy." | Mr Corner, who is godfather to the couple's twins, told the Today programme: "She is stunned and disappointed. Really disappointed, not only to be at this stage a suspect but I think the realisation that they're not actually looking for Madeleine I think is almost a double whammy." |
| Speaking from Glasgow, Mrs McCann's brother-in-law John McCann said: "We just need to see what exactly is going to develop in Portugal. | Speaking from Glasgow, Mrs McCann's brother-in-law John McCann said: "We just need to see what exactly is going to develop in Portugal. |
| "We just want to see exactly what the Portuguese police are saying. We cannot believe the line that they are going down - we just find it unbelievable." | "We just want to see exactly what the Portuguese police are saying. We cannot believe the line that they are going down - we just find it unbelievable." |
| Madeleine, of Rothley, Leicestershire, disappeared from the family's holiday apartment while her parents were eating in a nearby restaurant. | |
| Madeleine was last seen on 3 May | Madeleine was last seen on 3 May |
| Mrs McCann had previously been interviewed before by police the day after Madeleine disappeared, but yesterday was the first time her lawyer had been present. | Mrs McCann had previously been interviewed before by police the day after Madeleine disappeared, but yesterday was the first time her lawyer had been present. |
| She was questioned as a witness until after midnight on Thursday. Police have previously said the McCanns are not suspects. | She was questioned as a witness until after midnight on Thursday. Police have previously said the McCanns are not suspects. |
| In a statement released before her interview yesterday, she appealed to her daughter's abductors, saying: "It is not too late - please let her go or call the police." | In a statement released before her interview yesterday, she appealed to her daughter's abductors, saying: "It is not too late - please let her go or call the police." |
| She said: "We came to Portugal an ordinary family of five. We just want to know what happened on 3 May and want to be able to go home one family, reunited." | She said: "We came to Portugal an ordinary family of five. We just want to know what happened on 3 May and want to be able to go home one family, reunited." |
| Mrs McCann will become the second formal suspect in the case. The first was Robert Murat, a British man living locally. He has not been arrested or charged. | Mrs McCann will become the second formal suspect in the case. The first was Robert Murat, a British man living locally. He has not been arrested or charged. |
| Mrs McCann's husband Gerry, originally from Glasgow, is expected to be questioned on Friday afternoon about Madeleine's disappearance from an apartment in Praia da Luz, Algarve. It's is not known whether he too will be questioned as a suspect | Mrs McCann's husband Gerry, originally from Glasgow, is expected to be questioned on Friday afternoon about Madeleine's disappearance from an apartment in Praia da Luz, Algarve. It's is not known whether he too will be questioned as a suspect |
| Blood traces | Blood traces |
| Samples, including suspected traces of blood, have been recovered from the McCanns' holiday apartment. | Samples, including suspected traces of blood, have been recovered from the McCanns' holiday apartment. |
| The UK's Forensic Science Service has spent the past month analysing them. | The UK's Forensic Science Service has spent the past month analysing them. |
| Portuguese police spokesman Chief Inspector Olegario Sousa said partial results from tests had been received, but would give no further details. | Portuguese police spokesman Chief Inspector Olegario Sousa said partial results from tests had been received, but would give no further details. |
| Last week, the McCanns launched a libel action against a Portuguese newspaper which claimed they killed their daughter. | Last week, the McCanns launched a libel action against a Portuguese newspaper which claimed they killed their daughter. |
| A public statement from the director of police followed, saying neither Kate nor Gerry McCann had ever been viewed as suspects. | A public statement from the director of police followed, saying neither Kate nor Gerry McCann had ever been viewed as suspects. |
| The McCanns have travelled extensively through Europe to raise awareness of the search for their daughter. | The McCanns have travelled extensively through Europe to raise awareness of the search for their daughter. |