Spain ? An Italian man was arrested Thursday on suspicion of links to the case of Madeleine McCann, the 4-year-old British girl who vanished nearly two months ago during a vacation in Portugal, police said.

Spanish police did not say if the man was suspected of a role in the girl’s disappearance. Spanish television news reports said he may have tried to extort money from McCann’s parents, offering them information about the whereabouts of their daughter. Police did not confirm that.

A police spokeswoman said the man was detained on an international arrest warrant originating in France. She said the warrant had nothing to do with the McCann case, but would not elaborate.

The spokeswoman, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with police rules, did not identify the man or give details of how he was located.

Members of the McCann family in Britain said they were withholding comment until more information was known.