The director of Faro Polícia Judiciária (PJ), Guilhermino Encarnação, spoke to the press this morning (Saturday, May 5) announcing that he is convinced that three-year-old Madeleine has been abducted.
According to the PJ, evidence suggests that the English girl has been kidnapped from the bedroom of the apartment she and her family were staying at in Praia da Luz’s Mark Warner resort.
Guilhermino Encarnação, director said detectives have a suspect in mind but refused to reveal any details for fear of endangering Maddy’s life.
Speaking to the press outside the PJ headquarters in Portimão, Guilhermino Encarnação added that this type of crime isn’t just committed for the purpose of extorting ransom from the family, but the abductor could procure a child for the purpose of sexual activity.
Without being specific about the evidence in their possession, the PJ director also said that the police have received over 30,000 phone calls from members of the public reporting possible sightings of a girl matching Madeleine’s description.
 A controlled and well organised search is underway. Photo: Mark Rawcliffe – The Resident. |  |
According to the PJ, search teams have worked intensively since the disappearance of Madeleine on Thursday night, with approximately 150 men and women from the GNR, PJ (including forensic science police), Maritime Police, PSP, firefighters and the national civil protection service involved in the search operations. Police have apparently widened their search area to 3km around Praia da Luz, with suggestions that it could increase to 5km.
In response to the criticism coming from the British press and relatives of little Madeleine in regards to the efficiency of the Portuguese police, the PJ director said that police forces started searching the area 15 minutes after they received the phone call reporting the girl’s disappearance.
Guilhermino Encarnação added that the PJ is working in conjunction with Europol, Interpol, the British police and other entities in Europe. Three British police officers have apparently arrived in Praia da Luz to assist local police.
The PJ director also said that immediately after the Portuguese police were informed of the girl’s disappearance, European airports and the Spanish authorities were alerted to the situation.
A press conference by the PJ, which was due to take place tonight at 8pm, has now been cancelled for lack of new evidence.
Updated: 21:01, May 5, 2007
