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Madeleine police in hunt for Spanish girl, 5, snatched 120 miles from McCanns' apartment
Last updated at 01:07am on 17.01.08Portuguese police involved in the Madeleine McCann case have joined the hunt for another girl, it was revealed today.
Mari Luz Cortes, five, went missing in similar circumstances on Sunday in the Spanish town of Huelva, some 120 miles from the Portuguese resort of Praia da Luz.
The involvement of the Portuguese officers has fuelled fears that detectives think they may be linked and that a paedophile gang could be operating in the region.
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Missing: Mari Luz Cortes vanished at the weekend 120 miles from Praia da Luz
Kate and Gerry McCann's private detective agency, Metodo 3, has already been checking whether the apparent abduction could be linked to four-year-old Madeleine's disappearance last May 3.
And it emerged today that Guilhermino Encarnacao, head of the Policia Judiciaria in the Algarve, is working on the case.
He led the hunt for Madeleine but his team was accused of a series of errors such as failing to preserve the crime scene, and they made her parents official suspects.
Mr McCann, 39, said yesterday: "We are extremely concerned that another young girl has gone missing in the region.
"Our thoughts are with her family."
Mari disappeared after walking 200 yards from her gypsy family's home to buy a bag of crisps at about 5pm on Sunday.
When she did not return, her mother Irena frantically searched the run- down housing estate where they live, before calling the police two hours later.
Officers sent helicopters and sniffer dogs to scour the area, and searched bins, water tanks and wells around the Andalusian city.
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Upset mum: The distraught mother of Mari Luz Cortes holds a picture of her five-year-old daughter
Portuguese police also carried out searches on their side of the border.
A witness came forward yesterday to report seeing Mari on a bus hours after she vanished.
The little girl was said to be with a gypsy woman who was shouting at her to keep quiet.
Mrs Cortes said: "It's a credible lead for me because the woman gave a lot of facts about the clothes the girl was wearing.
"I think it could be my daughter."
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Her husband Juan Jose, 34, a builder and former professional footballer, added: "If anyone has taken Mari by mistake or if they thought she was lost, please bring her back.
"She's never left home because she's very shy.
"Mari Luz, whom we call Mari, is a very bright girl, with chestnut-coloured hair and enormous bright eyes."
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Missing: A second girl has now disappeared, not far from where Madeleine (above) vanished
The family yesterday attempted to counter criticism that they had allowed Mari to walk to the shops alone - just as the McCanns defended themselves for leaving their three children alone while they went out for dinner.
The scenes in the Torrejon estate yesterday were eerily reminiscent of Praia da Luz in May as Mari's desperate parents held impromptu press conferences before a growing media scrum.
Family spokesman Luis Molina said: "It is normal that she would go to the shop alone. It is only round the corner.
"No child has ever gone missing here before. It is a family neighbourhood, where everyone knows everyone.
"The family have lived here all their lives."
The McCanns believe their daughter was abducted by a stranger who stalked the family in Praia da Luz, before choosing the perfect moment to strike.
Mari's father said he could not face the possibility that the two girls had both been targeted by a paedophile ring.
"It's a possibility but it is not something we want to contemplate right now," he added.
The McCanns' spokesman, Clarence Mitchell, said: "Our private investigators are aware of the case and will be liaising with the Spanish police to establish whether there are any links with Madeleine's disappearance.
"Metodo 3 is based in Barcelona and will travel to Huelva to carry out their investigations."
A spokesman for the Spanish National Police said: "A thoroughly intense search is being carried out by more than 100 officers, but so far there has been no definite sign of Mari Luz."
He said Portuguese police were alerted because Huelva was so close to the border.
Reader views (8)
These poor parents are in trouble if the Portuguese Police are involved.
- Frank, Home Counties, England
Now, remind me...the Portuguese police have said that they suspect the parents because children so rarely go missing in Iberia...and that they advised against publicity, and publication of pictures of Madeleine.
It looks like the Spanish police disagree - having talked publically, published photographs, and held a press conference.
Of course, it could just have been "after the fact" to cover the actions of the Portuguese Police...
- Cynic, Reading
"Maybe some of the people saying that Kate and Gerry are involved with Madeleine's disappearance will think again!
- Maureen, Spain"
Inspector Maureen, like it or not, and however harsh it might seem, whatever the fate of the poor little girl, her "parents" will always be involved because they are the very people that chose to leave her, and her siblings, unattended night after night, etc, etc.
- Md, London
Here we go again, already the blame game has started. Shame on you all.
I certainly hope that the police looking for Mari Luz do a better job than they did before. Let's hope that this little girl is found soon. God bless her parents with strength to endure until their daughter is found.
- Jacci, Cape Town, South Africa
Maybe some of the people saying that Kate and Gerry are involved with Madeleine's disappearance will think again!
- Maureen, Spain
"Why on earth would you let a 5 year old child go to the shop on her own regardless of how close it is or how long you have lived somewhere? It's stupid."
Stupid, indeed. Similarly why would anyone leave three children, combined age of 7, alone in an unlocked apartment, night after night, to go out eating and drinking as, it appears, some parents do.
- Md, London
Why on earth would you let a 5 year old child go to the shop on her own regardless of how close it is or how long you have lived somewhere? It's stupid.
- Emma, London
"Portuguese police involved in the Madeleine McCann case have joined the hunt for another girl, it was revealed today"
for the sake of Mari Luz Cortes and her parents, I hope that's not the case...
- Andy Dawson, Crowthorne, Berks
