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Following an appeal in March, officers
from Operation Grange investigating the
disappearance of Madeleine McCann have
had a positive response to the appeal
which has led to a number of new lines
of enquiry.
Detectives overseeing the investigation
specifically appealed for further
information leading to the
identification of a suspect who may have
been responsible for a potentially
linked series of twelve offences on the
Western Algarve region between 2004 and
2010.
As a direct result of a media appeal on
19 March the investigation team
subsequently received over 500 calls.
Information from those calls has led to
the identification of six new cases
involving children. These six are in
addition to the twelve that had
previously been brought to their
attention.
These new cases are similar to a number
of the originally identified twelve
offences whereby a male intruder has
gained access to holiday villas occupied
by UK families in the Western Algarve.
Of the six new cases, all but one had
been reported to the Portuguese police
at the time of the offence. Five involve
sexual assaults on children and one was
a ‘near miss'. Of particular interest to
the team is that one of the new sexual
assaults took place in Praia da Luz in
2005.
Sufficient characteristics between the
cases lead them to now believe that 18
matters in total concerning children may
be potentially linked.
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Three incidents that took place in Praia
de Luz - between 2005 and 2010
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Five incidents that took place in
Carvoeiro between 2004 and 2006
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Nine incidents that took place in the
Praia de Gale, Vale de Parra, Sao Rafeal
(Albuferia district) between 2004 and
2008
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One incident that took place in
Vilamoura in 2005, a new offence which
has come to light since the March
appeal.
Detective Chief Inspector Andy Redwood,
the senior investigating officer said:
"I'm encouraged by the new information
that has come to light as a direct
result of the appeal in March. There has
been a huge public desire to assist us
with our investigation and I would like
to thank those who have provided us with
new information."
Anyone with any information is asked to
call the Operation Grange incident room
on 0207 321 9251. Alternatively if you
do not want to speak to us directly you
can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on
0800 555 111.
The Metropolitan Police Service
continues to offer 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 3 May 2007. |
