DETECTIVES believe that they have found the DNA of Madeleine McCann’s kidnapper.

The evidence was discovered in the bedroom where the four-year-old girl was sleeping when she was snatched.
It does not belong to any of the McCann family or chief suspect Robert Murat, 33.

And police sources in Portugal said there was no link to Russian Sergey Malinka, 22, who has also been questioned over the disappearance. The discovery by forensic scientists proves a stranger was in the family’s Ocean Club Resort apartment in Praia da Luz.

And the DNA is the first piece of hard evidence police have found in the investigation since Madeleine was taken on May 3.

A Portuguese police source said: “There is a new suspect. This could be vital evidence in the search for Madeleine.

Tests detected DNA corresponding to six people in the bedroom. Five were linked to the McCann family, the other shows there was a stranger in Madeleine’s room.”

But it may prove difficult linking the evidence to a suspect, as Portugal does not have a DNA database. The best hope is to pass the sample to British officers, with whom the Portuguese have been liaising.

The UK has the world’s largest DNA database, which includes the records of known paedophiles and anyone convicted of a sex crime.

The evidence will also be examined in nearby countries – including Spain – where Madeleine may have been taken. The crucial find was made at an undisclosed location in­side the apartment.

It is understood Madeleine’s parents Gerry and Kate have been informed of the breakthrough.

Last night a spokesman for Murat said he “welcomed” the new evidence and hoped it would help to clear his name. Tuck Price said his client was anxiously awaiting the chance to rebuild his reputation.

However, the police source said the evidence did not totally rule Murat out of the inquiry. He has been warned he could still face charges over pornography found on his computer.

Madeleine was abducted as she slept with two-year-old twins Sean and Amelie while her parents ate in a tapas restaurant just yards away.

Yesterday Mr and Mrs McCann were in Madrid as part of their campaign to raise awareness of her plight.

One theory detectives are working on is that she was smuggled across the border into Spain, which would have been possible as it took police 12 hours to alert border patrols she was missing.

Portugal’s Policia Judiciaria yesterday received the first of a series of DNA results after tests were carried out in Lisbon, Porto and Coimbra.

But a source at the Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal laboratory in Coimbra said: “It is an important step in the investigation but the truth is that the DNA cannot be matched with any records. The evidence is very vague.”

Yesterday Mr and Mrs McCann said they were looking for reassurances between Spanish and Portuguese police in the search. They have been running a high-profile campaign to keep Madeleine in the news.

Last night the couple, from Rothley, Leicestershire, flew back to Portugal after visiting Madrid, the Nether­lands, Morocco and Germany.

And on Wednesday they were in Rome to meet the Pope, who blessed a photograph of the child.

Madeleine’s aunt and uncle yesterday joined children from Bankhead Primary School in Rutherglen, Glas­gow, to release 400 yellow balloons – with pictures of the missing girl attached – in a bid to find her.

It is hoped they will travel to an­other country where someone will recognise the toddler.

Diane McCann, wife of Gerry’s brother John, is a teacher at the school and said all 400 pupils wanted to help find her niece. She added: “It was a beautiful sight. The family is delighted with the efforts of the pupils and my colleagues. Who knows how far the balloons will fly?”

Primary school children in Northern Ireland also launched balloons with messages of hope.

Holidaymakers who were at the Ocean Club Resort in the two weeks prior to Madeleine’s disappearance have been asked to submit images to try to find her abductor. One thousand photographs have now been uploaded to a website, and computer experts are using the latest face-recognition technology to identify any known paedophiles or criminals who may be in the background.

More than 1,500 people have also phoned a hotline in response to appeals for information.

UK police are urging anyone who has information or photographs that may be of interest to the investigation to get in touch.
●The uploading website can be found at http://www.madeleine.ceopupload.com. The hotline number is 0800 096 1233.