Madeleine McCann’s Crimewatch appeal triggers an “overwhelming response”

Police describe an “overwhelming” response to Monday’s Crimewatch appeal for information on the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.

Madeleine was 3 years old when she vanished from the family’s holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in May 2007.  

The program revisited her disappearance and focused on a reconstruction lasting almost 25 minutes. Police also explained that their initial timeline has been revised and significantly changed as they focus on smaller details that had previously been side-lined in the investigation. 

Detective chief inspector Andy Redwood, who is the senior investigating officer on the case, today stated: “Our focus in terms of understanding what happened on the night of the 3^rd of May has now caused a shift in emphasis.” 

Several new e-fits were released on Monday and there is now emphasis on the burglaries and fraudulent charity collectors that were said to be increasing in the area at the time.

Police highlighted the possibility that Madeleine had disturbed a burglar, although meticulous revisions of the case have led police to believe that Madeleine’s disappearance bores the “hall-marks of a pre-planned abduction”.

An in-depth interview with parents Kate and Gerry McCann also featured on the program. The couple retold the story of Madeline’s disappearance and shared memories of their daughter prior to the night of the 3^rd of May.

Kate’s teary recollections and her admission to feeling tremendous guilt for “weeks, months, years” after Madeline’s disappearance is likely to have further prompted the 300 phone calls and 170 emails that officers will be following up.

Many of these came from British people that were holidaying at the resort at the time but had not contacted the MET previously.

Many were also said to be mentioning the same name in connection to the crime. The e-fits and reconstruction footage will also be aired in the Netherlands, Germany and Irish Republic this week, as tourists from these countries were known to be staying at the resort.

During their appeal, Gerry and Kate touched upon how Madeleine was conceived with the help of IVF.

They say that the surge of interest and information from the public has renewed their optimism as they search for answers and their daughter.

 

Bethany Bishop