Yahoo News Police 'pursuing two new leads’ in the search for Madeleine McCann
Police are pursuing two new leads in the search for Madeline McCann, it has been reported.
Her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, have been informed of new developments in the case of their daughter, who went missing in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in May 207.
The Daily Mail reported that officers have told the McCanns they are “hopeful” of a result.
It said the team working on Operation Grange informed the couple of the latest developments in a meeting believed to have taken place at their home in Leicestershire.
They said they had “two specific and active” lines of inquiry, it was reported.
The paper said Kate and Gerry, both 50, are “greatly encouraged” by the new findings.
Last week, the Home Office announced it would give an extra £150,000 to Operation Grange, which will keep the investigation into Madeleine’s disappearance going until spring 2019.
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It has allocated a total of £11.75 million to the search so far. Madeleine disappeared when she was three from a holiday apartment in Portugal.
A Whitehall source told the Daily Mail: “Metropolitan Police officers had a sit-down meeting with Madeleine’s parents to tell them exactly where they were with their inquiries.
“They informed them they had two specific and active leads that still needed to be chased and that although the investigation was taking longer than they initially thought officers said they were confident and hopeful they could get a result.”
A senior government source said: “Police seeking special grant funding have needed to justify exactly what the money would be spent on, who they are chasing and why.
“They have had to outline their intended work in full detail and careful consideration has been given but we cannot divulge any aspects of that while there is an ongoing operation.”
Clarence Mitchell, spokesman for the McCanns, said: “They are greatly encouraged that the Met Police still believe there is work left to be done in the search for their daughter and they remain incredibly grateful to the Home Office for providing an extra budget for the investigation.
“Kate and Gerry appreciate everything the authorities have done and are doing to get a resolution after all this time.”
