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Madeleine McCann: Crimewatch response 'overwhelming' Madeleine McCann: Crimewatch response 'overwhelming'
(about 1 hour later)
Police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have said they had an "overwhelming response" to an appeal on the BBC's Crimewatch programme.Police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have said they had an "overwhelming response" to an appeal on the BBC's Crimewatch programme.
Officers suggested that Madeleine's disappearance in Portugal in 2007 bore hallmarks of a "pre-planned abduction".Officers suggested that Madeleine's disappearance in Portugal in 2007 bore hallmarks of a "pre-planned abduction".
Detectives released two e-fits of a man seen carrying a child in Praia da Luz on the night Madeleine went missing.
Scotland Yard said it was also looking into possible links to burglaries and bogus charity collections in the area.Scotland Yard said it was also looking into possible links to burglaries and bogus charity collections in the area.
It said officers would be following up the lines of inquiry provided by more than 300 phone calls and 170 emails.
Madeleine, from Rothley, Leicestershire, was three years old when she disappeared from her parents' holiday apartment in Praia da Luz on 3 May 2007.Madeleine, from Rothley, Leicestershire, was three years old when she disappeared from her parents' holiday apartment in Praia da Luz on 3 May 2007.
Police revealed their latest findings in the search for Madeleine on BBC One's Crimewatch on Monday.Police revealed their latest findings in the search for Madeleine on BBC One's Crimewatch on Monday.
Det Ch Insp Andy Redwood, the senior Metropolitan Police investigating officer, said a number of men had been seen by witnesses in the area on the day Madeleine vanished and one theory was they could have been carrying out reconnaissance. Detectives released two e-fits of a man seen carrying a child in Praia da Luz on the night Madeleine went missing.
DCI Redwood, the senior Metropolitan Police investigating officer, said a number of men had been seen by witnesses in the area on the day Madeleine vanished and one theory was they could have been carrying out reconnaissance.
He said they wanted to track down men seen "lurking suspiciously" near the McCanns' apartment block.He said they wanted to track down men seen "lurking suspiciously" near the McCanns' apartment block.
DCI Redwood also revealed it had been a "revelation moment" when police discovered that a man seen by the McCanns' friend Jane Tanner at 9.15pm was almost certainly an innocent British holiday-maker collecting his two-year-old daughter from a nearby creche. DCI Redwood also revealed it had been a "revelation moment" when police discovered that a man seen by the McCanns' friend Jane Tanner at 21:15 was almost certainly an innocent British holiday-maker collecting his two-year-old daughter from a nearby creche.
He said: "Our focus in terms of understanding what happened on the night of 3 May has now given us a shift of emphasis. We are almost certain that the man seen by Jane Tanner is not Madeleine's abductor.He said: "Our focus in terms of understanding what happened on the night of 3 May has now given us a shift of emphasis. We are almost certain that the man seen by Jane Tanner is not Madeleine's abductor.
"It takes us through to a position at 10pm when we see another man who is walking towards the ocean, close by to the apartment, with a young child in his arms.""It takes us through to a position at 10pm when we see another man who is walking towards the ocean, close by to the apartment, with a young child in his arms."
Madeleine's parents Kate and Gerry told Crimewatch they were "hopeful and optimistic" after police made a fresh appeal for information. DCI Redwood said he would be travelling to Holland and Germany this week to continue the appeal.
"We are extremely pleased with the response to the Crimewatch appeal," he added.
Madeleine's parents Kate and Gerry told the programme they were "hopeful and optimistic" after the fresh appeal for information.
Mrs McCann said: "We're not the ones that have done something wrong here. It's the person who's gone into that apartment and taken a little girl away from her family."Mrs McCann said: "We're not the ones that have done something wrong here. It's the person who's gone into that apartment and taken a little girl away from her family."
In a Crimewatch update, DCI Redwood said there had been an "overwhelming response" with hundreds of calls to the programme. Earlier, DCI Redwood said: "We have had a number of calls from people who were in the resort at the time, which confirms to me the value of what we're doing."
He said: "We have had a number of calls from people who were in the resort at the time, which confirms to me the value of what we're doing." Detectives released two e-fit images of a man and said a family had seen him with a blond-haired child of three or four, possibly wearing pyjamas, heading away from the McCanns' holiday apartment.
Earlier, detectives releasing two e-fit images of a man said a family had seen him with a blond-haired child of three or four, possibly wearing pyjamas, heading away from the McCanns' holiday apartment.
DCI Redwood said he could be the man who took Madeleine - but there could be an innocent explanation.DCI Redwood said he could be the man who took Madeleine - but there could be an innocent explanation.
He also said there had been a four-fold increase in the number of burglaries in the area between January and May 2007 and one possible scenario was that Madeleine had disturbed a burglar.He also said there had been a four-fold increase in the number of burglaries in the area between January and May 2007 and one possible scenario was that Madeleine had disturbed a burglar.
Police are also looking at possible bogus charity collectors operating in the area at the time and have released two e-fit images of Portuguese men they would like to identify.Police are also looking at possible bogus charity collectors operating in the area at the time and have released two e-fit images of Portuguese men they would like to identify.
Police have also released e-fit images of two men seen in the area around the time that Madeleine disappeared. Two are of fair-haired men who fit similar descriptions.Police have also released e-fit images of two men seen in the area around the time that Madeleine disappeared. Two are of fair-haired men who fit similar descriptions.
The Crimewatch appeal featured a detailed reconstruction lasting close to 25 minutes and covering events leading up to and surrounding Madeleine's disappearance.The Crimewatch appeal featured a detailed reconstruction lasting close to 25 minutes and covering events leading up to and surrounding Madeleine's disappearance.
In the programme, Mrs McCann described the moment that "panic kicked in" after returning to the apartment to find her daughter missing.In the programme, Mrs McCann described the moment that "panic kicked in" after returning to the apartment to find her daughter missing.
Portuguese police shelved their inquiry in 2008 but Scotland Yard began a review of the case in May 2011 and opened a formal investigation in July this year.Portuguese police shelved their inquiry in 2008 but Scotland Yard began a review of the case in May 2011 and opened a formal investigation in July this year.
The Metropolitan Police say their inquiries have led to the timeline and "accepted version of events" surrounding Madeleine's disappearance being significantly changed.The Metropolitan Police say their inquiries have led to the timeline and "accepted version of events" surrounding Madeleine's disappearance being significantly changed.
Madeleine and her brother and sister were left in the apartment at 8.30pm while her parents dined with friends at a nearby restaurant.Madeleine and her brother and sister were left in the apartment at 8.30pm while her parents dined with friends at a nearby restaurant.
Mr McCann checked on them at 9.05pm and Mrs McCann raised the alarm at 10pm.Mr McCann checked on them at 9.05pm and Mrs McCann raised the alarm at 10pm.
Thursday 3 May 2007: TimelineThursday 3 May 2007: Timeline