John

Police investigating the disappearance of a three-year-old British girl from a Portuguese holiday resort say it appears she has been abducted. Officers say they have a suspect in mind, and believe Madeleine McCann remains in the area and is still alive.
Her parents, from Leicestershire, left her at their apartment at Mark Warner's Ocean Club in Praia da Luz on Thursday, while they were at a nearby restaurant.
Doctors Gerry and Kate McCann have spoken of their "anguish and despair".
In the first official briefing on the case, Guilhermino Encarnacao, director of the judicial police in the Faro region, said officers are working on the assumption she is being held between 3km and 5km (1.8 and 3.1 miles) from the resort.
They had about 30 calls from potential witnesses and have created an artist's impression of a suspect.
Responding to criticism that the police had been slow to respond, Mr Encarnacao said officers arrived at the scene 10 minutes after being alerted to the disappearance.
An investigation unit began work within 30 minutes, he added.
Police are expected to provide a further update on their investigation later.

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John

Window opened
Relatives have flown to the Algarve to be with the couple, who were holidaying with their three children.


Speaking to press on Friday evening, Mr and Mrs McCann, from Rothley, pleaded for the return of their "beautiful" Madeleine.
Mr McCann, with his wife at his side, read out an emotional statement outside the holiday apartments on Friday evening.
"We cannot describe the anguish and despair we are feeling as parents of our beautiful daughter Madeleine," he said.
"We request that anyone with any information relating to Madeleine's disappearance, no matter how trivial, contact the Portuguese police and help us get her back safely."
The Ocean Club resort offered a creche service but the couple decided to leave Madeleine and two-year-old twins Sean and Amelie sleeping in the apartment.
They had taken turns to return from the restaurant to check on their children.


Madeleine, who turns four next Friday, was last seen by her father at about 2100 local time.
When Mrs McCann went to check on her about an hour later, she found the bedroom's outside shutter and window had been opened and her daughter missing.
Police were notified and resort staff and guests helped the McCanns search the complex grounds into Friday morning.
Pictures of Madeleine have been widely distributed, and ports and the Spanish police put on alert.
British Ambassador John Buck, who is with the McCanns in the Algarve, said they have been joined by three Family Liaison Officers from Leicestershire Police.
Mr McCann's sister Philomena, criticised the Portuguese police for initially "playing down" their response to the disappearance.
She has been in phone contact with her brother.
Speaking from her home in Glasgow, she said: "The police have stepped up the search much more than before...
"But he thinks it's just too little, too late.
"It was hours before the local police turned up and we're talking two bobbies that totally downplayed the incident and said that Maddie had maybe just wandered off."
But the Mayor of Lagos, Julio Barraso, defended the police from accusations that they had been too slow to act.
He told BBC News 24: "During all the night of Thursday until Friday they have been here and they started the investigation and I believe that humanly it's not possible to ask for more."

(BBC News)

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jojomac

I am so pleased to see that someone else had the same thought as myself.
Since your last posting, more details about the suspected paedophile ring who snatched Madeleine has been released. The suspects who selected, stalked and abducted this innocent child from her bed as she slept are described as 2 dark haired men and a blonde woman. They all speak English.
CCTV of a woman and two men with a girl matching Madeleine's description at a nearby petrol station is being analysed. Their car had British number plates.
Sky News understands that the man who forms part of the couple has dark skin and dark, collar-length hair with a middle parting. He is 1.75m tall.
He speaks English, has small glasses and was wearing a white shirt and beige trousers.
The woman is slightly shorter with long, blonde hair. She speaks English.
The other man is tall, well built, middle aged with a full face. He has straight, collar-length dark hair and was scruffy and unshaven, with greying stubble.
He also speaks English, was carrying a military-style backpack and was wearing a shirt with jeans and waistcoat. They were seen hanging around the beach at Sagres on 30th April and took photos of madeleine and her brother or sister along with other children. They then followed the family and obviously waited for their moment. The woman was seen loitering near the apartment at the Mark Warner Complex in Praia da Luz where Madeleine slept, just before she was snatched between 8 and 10pm on Thursday 3 May.
The group are now suspected to be in Spain
Please go to Please Help to Find Madeleine McCann for more details of this child who needs to be returned to her family safely.
Madeleine turns 4 on Saturday and needs to be returned to the safety of her family and her horrific ordeal ended. Please keep eyes and ears open.
There are rewards on offer of over £1,000,000.
Anyone who is travelling to the areas of Southern Portugal, Spain or any parts of Europe please keep alert and pass on ANY information that might help.