The Daily Mail; says:'In his first interview since Madeleine vanished on May 3, Chief Inspector Ribeiro admitted that the police "have no idea' why she was targetted, or what had happened to her.'
He said: "We have to be clear that we are working to clear up a difficult situation, above all in relation to the motive. "It could have been for money, for revenge, for hate. We don't know. I am optimistic because I believe we will end up understanding everything that happened. It is not easy. There is a long way yet to go and it would be frivolous of me to say we are near the end."
The senior officer, who refused to reveal how much the investigation has cost so far, definitively ruled out Madeleine's parents, Kate and Gerry McCann as suspects, saying: "The parents have never, ever been suspects."
He added: "We have no idea where Madeleine could be. The hypothesis (that she is dead) is apparent to everyone. Although it's true that it's a strong hypothesis and there is always that possibility, we cannot say that she is dead."
Mr Ribeiro said he was awaiting the results of DNA tests on blood samples found on a wall and curtains at the McCann's apartment.
Mr Ribeiro also criticised police officers who have leaked false information and speculation to Portuguese newspapers which have caused deep distress to Madeleine's parents Gerry and Kate.
He said: "The police should be discreet and keep quiet, but there is always someone who talks."
He said often the person briefing papers was a lower-ranking officer "who knows nothing", but wanted to inflate his own importance.
"There has been a lot of speculation, and if I denied everything erroneous that has been published, I would have no time for anything else," he said.
