By Formal suspect named in Madeleine McCann case
Portuguese prosecutors investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have now declared a formal suspect.
The person of interest was not named but investigators said they were acting on the request of German authorities, two years after German police said they were investigating a man in connection with the case.
Known as Christian B, he has not been charged and denies any involvement in Madeleine’s disappearance.
Three-year-old Madeleine disappeared during a family holiday in Praia da Luz in 2007.
She has never been found and investigators believe she was abducted from the holiday apartment where the family were staying in the Algarve resort.
A statement was issued on Thursday by prosecutors in Faro, who said a person was made an “arguido” – which translates as “named suspect”, “formal suspect” or “person of interest” – a day earlier.
This year on 3 May it will be 15 years since Madeleine was reported missing.
Under Portuguese law, it would no longer be possible to declare someone a person of interest beyond this date.
Portugal’s office of public prosecutions said that the move was not driven by timing, but by “strong indications” of the practice of a crime.
The suspect known as Christian B is currently serving a prison sentence for drug offences in Germany and a seven-year term for raping a 72-year-old woman.
The Metropolitan Police continue to treat Madeleine’s disappearance as a missing persons inquiry.
Madeline’s disappearance rocked the country and many documentaries have been made, attempting to piece together what happened that fateful night.
