Met wary ahead of Madeleine update

Assistant Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley said they hope next week’s appeal will produce new witnesses, but a conclusion to the case is not imminent.

A reconstruction of the “latest, most detailed understanding” of the events around the time Madeleine went missing will be shown on Crimewatch on BBC1 next Monday.

The update comes after the Metropolitan Police revealed a vast log of mobile phone traffic could be the key to finding out what happened to the-then three-year-old.

Scotland Yard detectives, who have interviewed 442 people as part of their review-turned-investigation into Madeleine’s disappearance, hope to track down as many people present in Praia da Luz, Portugal, on or around May 3 2007 as possible.

Madeleine’s parents have said they are “greatly encouraged” by new information about their daughter’s disappearance.

Yesterday Mr Rowley said it was vital that the public focused on new facts rather than speculation.

“Just to be clear, we are focused on the appeal on Crimewatch next week which we hope will produce new witnesses,” he said.

“It is clearly too early to speculate about where this will lead.

“It remains vital for us, and the success of the appeal, that the public are focused on new facts that can be released by the investigative team rather than speculation.”