Portuguese prosecutors ordered police to reopen the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, the missing British girl who disappeared while on a family vacation at a resort in Praia da Luz, a coastal town 120 miles from Lisbon, The Associated Press reported. She disappeared shortly before her fourth birthday on May 3, 2007.
Lisbon's public prosecutor's office said the decision to reopen the case stemmed from "new indications" emerged during a case review, but gave no further details.
London's metropolitan police, or Scotland Yard, said the decision "follows the discovery of new lines of inquiry as a result of an internal review of their original investigation," adding that their investigation will work in tandem with Portugual's authorities.
London police released computer-generated images of a new suspect last week "based on information from separate witnesses who spotted a man in the... resort," The AP also reported.
The Portuguese authorities previously closed their inquiry case in 2008, and McCann's parents, Kate and Gerry were briefly considered suspects. Once they were cleared, Scotland Yard has thus far been unable to find her abductor, much to the consternation of concerned citizens worldwide.
The McCanns said they were "very pleased" to learn that the case had been reopened.
"We hope that this will finally lead to (Madeleine) being found and to the discovery of whoever is responsible for this crime," the McCanns said on Wednesday.
British police, which launched Operation Grange in March 2011, said "we still have ways to go," adding that they intend to travel regularly to Portugal to work on the case.
BBC recently aired on their "Crimewatch" program a reenactment of what British police believe the series of events on the night of Madeleine McCann's disappearance. The show also included an interview with Madeleine McCann's parents.
