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Madeleine McCann: Police confirm Portugal 'activity' Madeleine McCann: Police confirm Portugal 'activity'
(35 minutes later)
Police investigating Madeleine McCann's disappearance have said "activity" is to begin in Portugal soon. Police investigating Madeleine McCann's disappearance say "activity" is expected to begin in Portugal soon.
The disclosure comes amid reports Portuguese authorities have given permission for sites in Praia da Luz, where the toddler went missing, to be searched.The disclosure comes amid reports Portuguese authorities have given permission for sites in Praia da Luz, where the toddler went missing, to be searched.
Met Police Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said he would be unable to provide details of activity. Met Police Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said he would be unable to provide details of the activity.
But he said he believed it "will occur in the coming weeks". But he said he believed it would occur "in the coming weeks".
A letter was sent to media editors amid speculation about excavation work. Mr Rowley asked them to "think carefully" about information they publish. A letter was sent to media editors amid speculation about excavation work. Mr Rowley asked them to "think carefully" about information they published.
Madeleine was three when she went missing from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Algarve, in May 2007.Madeleine was three when she went missing from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Algarve, in May 2007.
Bureaucratic and slower No media updates
A request to search a number of sites was among a series of requests made to police in Portugal by British detectives working on the case, according to reports.A request to search a number of sites was among a series of requests made to police in Portugal by British detectives working on the case, according to reports.
Mr Rowley said he had discussed the case with his opposite number in Portugal and highlighted the "high levels of interest" that activity would generate in the British media. Mr Rowley said he had discussed the case with his opposite number in Portugal and highlighted the "high levels of interest" the activity would generate in the British media.
But he said Portuguese police do not provide the media with updates on current investigations. He said Portuguese police did not provide the media with updates on ongoing investigations.
He adds that "activity will cease" if police in Britain provide information or reporters "cause any disruption to their work in Portugal". Activity would cease if police in Britain gave out information or news reporters caused any disruption to their work in Portugal, he added.
Mr Rowley also said the processing of requests had been "more bureaucratic and slower than we would wish". Mr Rowley said the Portuguese authorities had been "more bureaucratic and slower" at processing requests than his team had wished.
But he asked media editors to respect the requests of Portuguese authorities as they carry out the work. But he asked the media to respect their requests as they carried out the work.
"We do not want to undermine our prospects of providing Mr and Mrs McCann with answers in this tragic case", he added. "We do not want to undermine our prospects of providing Mr and Mrs McCann with answers in this tragic case," he said.
Anniversary Seventh anniversary
The development comes after the seventh anniversary of Madeleine going missing was marked on Saturday. It comes after the seventh anniversary of Madeleine's disappearance was marked on Saturday.
Gerry McCann, Madeleine's father, expressed his family's gratitude that the Metropolitan Police team investigating Madeleine's disappearance was now moving on to a "very active" phase in their investigation. Gerry McCann, Madeleine's father, expressed his family's gratitude that the Metropolitan Police team was now moving on to a "very active" phase in its investigation.
He said at the weekend: "They are chipping away and obviously there is new evidence so we are going to continue to hope that we will get a happy outcome."He said at the weekend: "They are chipping away and obviously there is new evidence so we are going to continue to hope that we will get a happy outcome."
Kate McCann also disclosed last week that she returns to the Portuguese resort where her daughter disappeared to "walk those streets" and "look for answers" once or twice each year.Kate McCann also disclosed last week that she returns to the Portuguese resort where her daughter disappeared to "walk those streets" and "look for answers" once or twice each year.
She also backed a revamped alert system triggered when missing children are kidnapped or their lives are at risk - known as Child Rescue Alerts.She also backed a revamped alert system triggered when missing children are kidnapped or their lives are at risk - known as Child Rescue Alerts.
Intruder sightings
Scotland Yard launched a fresh investigation - codenamed Operation Grange - into Madeleine's disappearance last July, two years into a review of the case, and made renewed appeals for information.
A high-profile campaign by the McCanns and the Portuguese police investigation had so far failed to locate the missing child.
In March, British police said they were also seeking an intruder who sexually abused five girls in Portugal between 2004 and 2006.
Detectives say the attacks happened in holiday villas occupied by UK families in the Algarve.
Thursday 3 May 2007: Timeline
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