Nearly 1,000 people offering information about the Madeleine McCann case contacted Scotland Yard and BBC1’s Crimewatch TV programme after it aired on Monday (October 14).
The young girl’s disappearance was reconstructed on British national TV and Scotland Yard said the public’s response was “truly unprecedented”.
Detective Chief Inspector Andy Redwood of the Metropolitan police said: “We have now had over 730 calls and 212 emails as a direct result of the specific lines of enquiry we issued yesterday concerning events in the lead up to, and on the night of Thursday May 3 2007 when Madeleine was abducted,” he added.
Crimewatch editor Joe Mather said: “There are lots of callers from British people who were in Praia de Luz at the time but had never previously spoken to the Metropolitan Police.”
He added that “several” people had named the suspect who police now believe may have abducted Madeleine only moments before Kate McCann checked on her children.
“It is remarkable how often results are possible even several years down the line, and how often a targeted appeal can bring results.”
A man who was seen around the McCann’s apartment nearly an hour before the time in which the alleged kidnapping is believed to have taken place has now been crossed off the suspect list due to new developments which prove he was a British holidaymaker returning his own child from a night crèche.
Gerry McCann, Madeleine’s father, praised the Metropolitan Police for finding information essential to moving the case forward.
“We’re feeling hopeful and optimistic,” he said, during a live interview.
Madeleine’s mother, Kate McCaan, said: “It doesn’t matter how much heartache we put ourselves through, so long as we get the result that we need.”
In a desperate attempt to convince people to surface with important information, she added: “Please, please have the courage and confidence to come forward now and share that information with us. You could unlock this whole case, so please.”
The show aired on the same day British police released two digital facial composites of a main suspect believed to be linked to the disappearance of Madeleine McCann and two others of men sighted close to the McCann apartment on the day of her disappearance.
The e-fits of the main suspect were created based on statements and descriptions from two different witnesses who claim to have seen the man in the vicinity of the Praia da Luz resort during the night of Madeleine McCann’s disappearance, carrying a blonde girl in her pyjamas.
New data shows that this might be the person authorities are looking for.
Redwood said: “The e-fits are clear and I would ask the public to look very carefully at them. If you know who this person is, please come forward.”
He added: “Whilst this man may or may not be the key to unlocking this investigation, tracing and speaking to him is of vital importance to us.”
Scotland Yard said the witnesses described the man as being white, aged between 20-40, with short brown hair, of medium build, medium height and clean shaven.
It was also announced that a £20,000 reward is being offered to anyone whose information leads to an arrest.
Anyone with any information is asked to call the incident room on 0800 096 1011, if UK based. If based outside the UK call +4420 7158 0126, or email operation.grange@met.police.uk
