Morning:
20°c
Johnny Depp has become, in his young middle age, like a star of the movies’ golden period
Secret deal hatched by News of the World to hush up details of phone-tapping was sealed in a tiny room at the Royal Courts of Justice
More...
'Maddy was abducted and we have a suspect in mind'
Last updated at 16:09pm on 29.10.07Portugese police believe three-year-old Madeleine McCann has been abducted and have a suspect in mind, a police chief said today. The toddler vanished from her bed at a holiday resort when her parents were in a restaurant only 40 yards away.
Guilhermino Encarnacao, director of the judicial police in the Faro region, said they were hopeful she is still alive and believe she is still in Portugal.
But he refused to reveal any more details for fear of endangering Madeleine's life.
Video...
• Footage from the Praia da Luz Mark Warner resort
• Madeleine's parents plead for information about their daughter
scroll down for more
Vanished: Madeleine McCann, three, was asleep next to her twin brother and sister
The three-year-old's great uncle, Brian Kennedy said the family "fear the worst but we are hoping for the best."
British Ambassador John Buck was with Madeleine's family this afternoon. He confirmed that three family liaison officers from Leicestershire Police had now arrived and were with the family.
Kate and her husband Gerry, a consultant cardiologist, have told family and friends they suspect their daughter was snatched while her two-year-old twin brother and sister were sound asleep in cots on either side of her.
Madeleine, who was born by IVF treatment, disappeared from the family's ground-floor holiday apartment at the 'family friendly' Mark Warner holiday complex in the Praia da Luz resort as her parents ate at a tapas restaurant close by.
The child's aunt, Trish Cameron, yesterday described the frantic telephone call she received after the couple discovered their daughter was missing around ten o'clock on Thursday night.
"It was my young brother Gerry distraught on the phone, breaking his heart. He said: 'Madeleine's been abducted, she's been abducted'.
"They kept going back to check the kids every half hour. The restaurant was only 40 yards away. He went back at nine o'clock to check the children. They were all sound asleep, windows shut, shutters shut."
Kate then went over to the two-bedroom ground-floor apartment and 'came out screaming', said Mrs Cameron. 'The door was lying open, the window in the bedroom and the shutters had been jemmied open.
"Nothing had been touched in the apartment, no valuables taken, no passports. They think someone must have come in the window and gone out the door with her."
Portuguese police yesterday sealed off the three-storey block and forensic specialists fingerprinted the ground floor window of the McCanns' apartment. All airports, ports and border posts have been alerted.
But despite a massive search throughout the night by police, sniffer dogs and dozens of holidaymakers, there has been no sign of Madeleine, wearing white pyjamas when her parents put her to bed with twins Amelie and Sean in the bougainvillea-clad apartment.
scroll down for more
Madeleine's parents Kate and Gerry McCann
Intriguingly, a Briton who runs a company in the Algarve has told police he spotted a couple carrying a young child early yesterday.
George Burke, from Liverpool, was driving home from nearby Lagos around 6am when he caught the two people in his car headlights. "I couldn't see them clearly because it was dark and windy. They scurried down a side road and out of sight."
Last night, as police helicopters and launches scoured the sea, beach and village, Madeleine's family issued a statement which read: "This is a particularly difficult time for the family and we are all comforting each other. At this time all the family's focus is in assisting the UK and in particular the Portuguese authorities in securing Madeleine's safe return."
scroll down for more
A family torn apart: Parents Kate and Gerry McCann with Madeleine and the twins
Ray of light: Madeleine is described as active and chatty
Mr McCann, a consultant cardiologist at Leicester's Glenfield Hospital, and his wife Kate, a GP, had chosen the up-market resort because it was family-friendly.
A friend of the couple, Jill Renwick, said: "This is the first time they have done this. They are very, very anxious parents and very careful."
She said Madeleine - known as Maddy - was 'gorgeous, active and chatty and intelligent, not shy. She is four next week and starts school this year.'
The McCanns, who have been married eight years and recently moved into a £600,000 detached house in Rothley, a suburb of Leicester, were on holiday with a group of fellow doctors and other young children, paying around £1,600 for a week.
In the evenings, Mark Warner offers a drop-in creche service enabling customers to leave young children with staff while they enjoy a relaxing dinner.
Customers may also pay for individual baby-sitters but the McCanns, both 38, chose not to use either service, instead taking it in turns regularly to check their three young children themselves from the restaurant on the other side of a swimming pool from their apartment.
After Mrs McCann raised the alarm, Mark Warner said it immediately launched a search of all areas within the complex and the peaceful, 1,000-population fishing village.
Resort manager John Hill said: "As well as staff, we had guests helping, also the majority of the Praia da Luz village.
"Police were informed at the same time as the alarm was raised. They arrived about 10.45pm and after statements were taken from the family police decided to escalate the situation."
Paul Moyes, 47, from Cheshire, and his wife Susan own a holiday apartment in the same black as the McCanns. He said: "There was a knock on the door at about 11.30 from a hotel guest telling us a girl was missing and asking us to help in the search.
"There were uniformed police, plain clothes and even off-duty local officers. The search went on all night, people were using torches.
"We searched the beach and the hotel grounds with scores of people. Quite a few of us own holiday homes here so it's a close-knit community and something like this is terribly shocking." Michael Hannar, from Pontefract, Yorkshire, owns a ground floor apartment close to the McCanns.
He said: "I don't believe a three-year-old child would have been strong enough to open the window or shutter.
"Mine are difficult to open, especially if the window is fully closed. The shutter is also difficult to open."
Family friend Mrs Renwick said the McCanns - who met while training at the Western Infirmary at Glasgow - felt let down by police.
"I spoke to them this morning and they said the police had done nothing overnight and they felt as if they'd been left on their own."
Resort manager Mr Hill said: "We're in a sleepy fishing village and manpower for the police, I agree, was low at the time. After the CID were involved more police were called."
In Leicester, neighbours spoke of the loving, protective parents.
Tracey Horsefield, a 32-year-old nurse, said: "They never let those children out on their own. I have never seen Madeleine without her parents."
Mr McCann's mother Eileen, 67, from Glasgow, said the couple had been desperate to have children and eventually underwent IVF treatment.
"Madeleine made their lives complete when she came along. The three children were very close and I don't know how they will cope - how any of them will."
Madeleine's uncle Michael Healy said: "There has been some negative spin put on this, with people criticising them for leaving the kids.
"But it's nonsense, they were close by and eating within sight of where the children were and checking on them. No one was rip-roaring drunk."
Reader views (39)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
I will pray for you.
May God be with you all the way.
- Maryline, The Caribbean
I hope you find her.
- Amber, Hooker USA
This is a truly disturbing nightmare that I cannot even begin to comprehend for Maddie's family. Most of all I will never be able to comprehend what is going through the mind of their sweet angel who was given no chance and no say.
Maddie my thoughts and prayers are with you, and by the grace of God I hope you find your way back home safe and sound.
- L, Canada
I pray with all my heart that this little girl is found safe and well and returned to her loving family. All of you "throwing stones" at the McCanns should be ashamed. Instead of voicing vemonous thoughts about the family how about thinking positive, loving thoughts for her safe return. Your venom should be targeted at the evil person that took her.
- Jaki, France
Some of these comments are very innapropriate.
Now is not the time to judge anyone.
Lets just hope that she is found safe and well. My heart goes out to them.
- Mel, St albans England
To everybody saying they are bad parents - do you seriously never let your children out of your sight or never get babysitters to look after them? Mark Warner have nannies in their centres who I would trust with my kids.
- Charlie, London
Isabel, You obviously have not visited one of these complexes, it simply cannot be compared to "going over the road for dinner".
- Joanne, Weybridge
Trevor Roll - Never a truer word was spoken.
- Anon, London, UK
Regardless of what the parents should or should not have done, there is still a child missing. I pray that she is returned home safely.
- Sarah, Ohio, USA
The parents will be berating themselves enough without being judged and condemned by strangers. Please find it in your hearts to just focus on Madeleine being found safe.
- Adrienne, Tayside, Scotland
They let their guard down as do so many over security issues whilst they're on holiday. Would they have left these children alone in a ground floor apartment in the UK and gone over the road for dinner? Unlikely.
- Isabel, Woking, England
My heart goes out to Maddy's parents. I heard about this terrible incident on the Portuguese news this lunchtime. I believe that the Portuguese authorities are doing everything they can to ensure her safe return. I do agree with some others on this page who say that they would never leave their child alone in a hotel room. I would never leave my son alone, no matter how close by I was.
- Anna, Algarve, Portugal
I hope Maddy is safe and well and back in the arms of her parents very soon.
- Kareen, Fife
No Mary, I've not been a perfect parent, who is? However, I would never consider leaving a child, let alone an infant, in a house/hotel room on their own!
- Mark, South-East London
My children get distressed when they wake up to find I am downstairs, how would those children have felt if they had woke up at 8.05 and their parents didn't come back until 9pm, forget they are doctors in a £500,000 house and picture them from a rough housing estate struggling to cope on benefits then there would be uproar.
My thoughts are with Maddie.
- Leanne, Wolverhampton
Please get out of the blame game and send out good wishes to little Madeleine that she is found safe and well.
The parents are going through Hell now! What right have any of us got to criticise them. Have we all been perfect parents at all times?
- Mary, Western Australia
I am so devastated for the parents of this little girl and for the little girl herself what must she be going through. I just hope and pray that she will be found safe and well very very soon. I know the parents are going through hell right now but why on earth did they leave her unattended?
- Lorraine, Donegal, Ireland
The parents were no doubt lulled into feeling safe by the environment they were in. They must be distraught, pray for safe return of their little girl.
- Susan, London
Please do not condemn these parents. Their daughter is missing. This is the worst time in their lives and they need support and understanding. It is all too easy to judge and blame but that will not bring Madeleine home to her family. Let's remember that a little girl is missing, two parents are searching for their baby, two little boys are missing thier sister and a family is in desperation.
- Melanie, Haverfordwest, Wales
What a terrible way to find out that you're an attrocious parent.
- Trevor Roll, London
Why would anyone leave a young child alone? Whatever the outcome, this mother has to accept some of the blame.
- Suzanne, London
All in Singapore hope Madeleine is found soon and is safe. We think and pray for her and her family.
- Adrian, Singapore SE Asia
They may have only been 30 yards away - it might as well have been 30 miles. No one with an ounce of sense would have left 3 small children alone in a foreign country. If they were "chavs" there would be calls for the twins to be taken into care and perhaps they should be. Irresponsible at best - criminally negligent at worst.
- Barbara, London
Please do not blame these poor parents. I can't even begin to imagine how sick with worry they must be. I am certain that the holier than thou of you who are blaming the parents, cannot say that you would watch your children when they are in bed asleep or at every moment of the day. This could happen to anyone. Just be thankful that you have been spared this nightmare. What this family needs is support and everyone's prayers that their beautiful little girl is returned to them safe and well. God Bless.
- Jessica, London
I really hope they find her, but what the hell were the parents doing leaving the children alone?
- Anon, Bath, UK
"Kate and Gerald went out about eight, went back in at nine, the children were fine, went back in at 10 and she was gone."
Although the parents may only been 30 yards away, leaving two young children in a hotel room and only checking the children once an hour was totally irresponsible. A child friendly environment does not guaruntee their safety.
I am hoping for the safe return of Madeleine.
- Daizy, Up North
As a mum of 2 toddlers (one who wandered off for five terrible long minutes whilst on holiday recently), I am praying with all my heart for a happy ending to this story.
I know only too well the sick fear and terrible thoughts that must be running through the parents' minds right now. I feel just terrible having heard this, so they must be in absolute torment.
- Abbi, Guernsey
So the parents of a 3 year old girl left her alone in a hotel bedroom while they ate dinner at a restaurant? Charges should be brought against them no matter what has happened to the child.
- A. Non, Seattle, Washington
As a parent this is your worst nightmare. I hope little Madeleine has just wandered off somewhere and will return safely.
- Lisa Farmer, Carlisle
This must be a nightmare for the family and our hearts and thoughts go out them. We both pray that this little girl is returned to her parents safe and well.
- Stewart & Carol, Northumberland
I'm sorry, but what kind of parents leave a 3 year old and TWO babies on their own to go and have dinner at a restaurant?
- Mark, Rochester, Kent, UK
What a foolish, irresponsible thing to do, to leave 3 children alone in a hotel room. I hope she is found safe and well.
- Karen, England
I am shocked that this happened. I have been to two Mark Warner resorts and they are safe places! I hope they find her.
- Charlie, London
This is terrible terrible news. My prayers are with the family. I can't believe that there can be people in this world who are capable of kidnapping little toddlers. It is horrific.
- Aamir Islam, Milton Keynes, UK
From everyone here in Leicester we hope that Madeleine is found safe and well. All our thoughts are with you.
- Anon, Leicester
I went to that same resort with my family, including my 5-year old daughter, a few years ago. When I heard this news on the radio this morning, I felt terrible. I hope the parents find their daughter safe and well. My thoughts and prayers go out to them.
- Richard, Gateshead UK
My heart goes out to the parents. We all think our children are safe tucked up in bed, and no blame what so ever should be placed on the parents.
I hope with all my heart that madeleine is found safe and well very soon.
- Sarah, Poole
Oh my god, the parents must be going through hell. I have a daughter the same age and I hope with all my heart she is found safe.
- Anon, Cumbria
What on earth were the parents thinking when they left her alone in an hotel room?
- Jane, London
