British detectives have flown to Portugal to arrest three suspects in the case of Madeleine McCann's disappearance. Her parents, Gerry and Kate, are said to be on tenterhooks as this new development could lead to the discovery of the whereabouts of the now-10-year-old, who was taken from a villa in Praia Da Luz when she was just three.
'The Met are being very proactive and this is good news in the search for Madeleine and her abductor,' a source told* The Mirror*, continuing: 'It is necessary for British police to request the Portuguese authorities allow them to operate on their turf. It means they have the intention of arresting and interviewing X, Y or Z.'
But sadly, the McCanns have been in a similar position before – and been disappointed before. 'Whether the Portuguese will cooperate remains to be seen. It is a very sensitive issue with differences they have had,' says the source. 'Kate and Gerry don’t want to build up their hopes but they realise it could be a significant new lead.'
The suspects are believed to be a gang of burglars and mobile phone records show that they made a high frequency of calls in the hours after Madeleine disappeared. Tensions have been high between British and Portuguese forces, and at one point during the ongoing investigations, Kate and Gerry were declared 'aguidos' by their forces as they believed there was evidence to suggest they were linked to the disappearance. However, tests proved inconclusive. If there is co-operation between the two forces, it could be a very hopeful sign.
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.