British police have released two digital facial composites of a suspect believed to be linked to the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.
The e-fits 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.
Detective Chief Inspector Andy Redwood of the Metropolitan police 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. We have witnesses placing him in the resort area around the time of Madeleine’s disappearance.”
Scotland Yard said the witnesses described the man in the e-fit as being white, aged between 20-40 years old, with short brown hair, of medium build, medium height and clean shaven.
Detective Andy Redwood calls for anyone who recognises the man to contact him while BBC1’s Crimewatch broadcasts tonight (Monday, October 14) at 9pm.
A 25-minute reconstruction of the events of May 3 2007 is expected to show that the previous information regarding the account and timeline of the events was inaccurate.
Despite the promising development in the investigation, Redwood denied that these e-fits are the police’s only lead.
“This is far from our only line of inquiry and there will be e-fits released of other sightings as well, who we are equally keen to trace. These people were seen on the day of Madeleine’s disappearance and the days leading up to it.
“Where we have been able to make massive steps forward is by drawing together all the material gathered to date, and reviewing it as a whole.”
The detective also revealed that he would be travelling to Holland, Germany and Ireland to seek the support of the public there.
“We continue to put Madeleine at the heart of our investigation and I would urge people to watch Crimewatch tonight and if you can help identify this man or have any information about our new appeal points please contact us,” Redwood appealed.
He left a request to the community of Praia da Luz: “I would also like to ask for the help of the local community in Praia da Luz. Portugal is a key country for us to trace any outstanding witnesses and our appeals will be repeated there.
“If you were in and around the Praia da Luz resort on Thursday, May 3 2007, but you have not yet spoken to police, and you think you may have information, please pass it on.”
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
Man arrested
Meanwhile, tabloid newspaper Daily Mirror reported that a man was arrested this weekend due to comments made at a party which suggest he possesses knowledge on the whereabouts of Madeleine McCann.
The report says that the suspect was arrested after the man bragged to a barrister about having been introduced to Madeleine only weeks ago on a Mediterranean island during a private house party.
It is added that the Manchester officers who made the arrest also seized computers from a private address and sent them for forensic examination and that Scotland Yard’s Operation Grange team have been handed the barrister’s detailed statement, which is rated as “high up on the credibility scale”.
Police have not released any details about the man they have arrested.
