14 October 2013
Incident Date
3rd May 2007
Incident Location
Praia da Luz, Portugal.
Description
A reconstruction of events showing new and significant information has been compiled to seek the assistance of the public in the UK through Crimewatch, Germany through Aktenzeichen XY...ungelost and Holland through Opsporing Verzocht. These are believed to be the most prevalent nationalities in the area at the time other than the local Portuguese community.
Our Priorities
-
A new understanding of
events on the evening
Madeleine disappeared
has resulted in a
renewed focus on a
sighting of a man
carrying a child towards
the ocean/centre of town
at about 10pm.
There are two e-fit
images, 1A & 1B,
of the same man. The
witnesses have described
the man in the e-fit as
being white, aged about
in his 30s, with short
brown hair, of medium
build, medium height and
clean shaven.
-
Numerous sightings of
unidentified men with
blonde or fair hair seen
near the scene before or
on 3rd May 2007. They
may or may not be the
same person.
There are two e-fit
images,
2A & 2B. The
witness who described
the man depicted in
e-fit 2A described him
as wearing black
sunglasses with a thick
frame, and was wearing a
black leather jacket.
-
There was a fourfold
increase in burglaries
in the resort peaking in
April 2007. Two of the
burglaries in April were
in Block 5 where
Madeleine disappeared
from. In both these
burglaries entry was via
a window. In the first
burglary the British
occupants had just
arrived on 16 April when
a man called at the door
asking for the "German
family". He is described
as white, aged in his
20s, fair/blond hair,
short in length. They
discovered the burglary
after they returned from
dinner.
-
There were four separate
charity collector
sightings on the 3rd May
in Praia da Luz between
3.30pm and 5.30pm. From
one of these sightings
an e-fit was compiled of
a man who approached a
property on Rua do
Ramalhete, near the
Ocean Club, at
approximately 4.00pm. He
is described as
Portuguese, with medium
length wavy hair, aged
25-30. He is said to
have spoken good
English. E-fit
4A
- E-fit 4B is of a charity collector who called at apartment G5A on the 25th or 26th April between 1430 and 1500. He is described as a Portuguese looking man, aged between 40-45 years old, with short dark hair, slightly grey at sides. He was carrying a clipboard or pad, a receipt book and an ID card with his photo on it, but in that photo he had a goatee beard.
Appeal points
The investigation team need to identify and speak to these people:
- Are any of these men you? Do you know who they are? Have you seen them?
- Were you in Praia da Luz on or around 3rd May 2007, but have not yet spoken to the police?
- Were you a victim of a previously unreported crime, in particular a burglary or approached by a charity collector in this area?
Reward
The Metropolitan Police Service is offering a reward of up to £20,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest and prosecution of the person(s) responsible for the abduction of Madeleine McCann from Praia da Luz Portugal on the 3rd May 2003.
Update on previous appeal
We believe we have identified the man who was seen by Jane Tanner carrying a child at about 21.15 near the apartment G5A. These images are the original sketch of that person made at the time together with a Met Police photo of the British holidaymaker who we have spoken to and is seen here wearing the clothes he believes he may have been wearing that evening. The images are: man holding child & man without child.
Contact
- Incident Room Telephone number: UK Callers 0800 096 1011
- International: +44 2071 580 126
- Email: Operation.Grange@met.police.uk
