Madeleine McCann parents ‘very pleased’ at new Portugal probe

The parents of Madeleine McCann said on Wednesday they were “very pleased” that Portuguese authorities were reopening their investigation into the disappearance of the British girl from a resort in 2007.

“We are very pleased that the investigation to find our missing daughter Madeleine has been officially reopened in Portugal,” said Kate and Gerry McCann, who have led a six-year campaign to find their daughter.

“We hope that this will finally lead to her being found and to the discovery of whoever is responsible for this crime.

“We once again urge any member of the public who may have information relating to Madeleine’s abduction to contact the police in Portugal or the UK.”

Maddie vanished from the holiday apartment where her parents were staying in the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz just days before her fourth birthday in May 2007, while they were dining at a nearby tapas bar.

Portuguese authorities closed their investigation into her disappearance in 2008 but the attorney general’s office said on Wednesday that it had decided to reopen the inquiry “following a request by police due to new elements.”

“Please be patient and respect the work of the police as they endeavour to find the answers we so desperately need,” the McCanns said.

“In particular we request that the media consider carefully Madeleine’s safety and the integrity of the investigation in their reporting.”

British police spent two years reviewing it at the British government’s request and opened their own probe in July this year, following which they released new electronic images of men they want to question.