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Madeleine McCann police hunting 'tanned, dark-haired man' wanted for sexually assaulting five other young British girls Madeleine McCann search: Police hunting 'tanned, dark-haired man' wanted for sexually assaulting five other young British girls
(35 minutes later)
Detectives investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have revealed that they are hunting for a "tanned, dark-haired man" suspected of abusing five other young British girls.Detectives investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have revealed that they are hunting for a "tanned, dark-haired man" suspected of abusing five other young British girls.
Police say the man is suspected to have attacked the girls, four of whom were aged between seven and 10 years old, at holiday homes in the Algarve, Portugal between 2004 and 2006.Police say the man is suspected to have attacked the girls, four of whom were aged between seven and 10 years old, at holiday homes in the Algarve, Portugal between 2004 and 2006.
Madeleine vanished from an apartment in the Praia da Luz resort in the Algarve where she was staying with her parents Gerry and Kate McCann in May 2007.Madeleine vanished from an apartment in the Praia da Luz resort in the Algarve where she was staying with her parents Gerry and Kate McCann in May 2007.
Detectives said today the man, described as a "tanned, dark haired" lone intruder, was a suspect in 12 break-ins to properties where British families were staying between 2004 and 2010, during which the alleged sexual assaults took place.  Detectives said today the man, described as a "tanned, dark haired" lone intruder, was a suspect in 12 break-ins to properties where British families were staying between 2004 and 2010, during which the alleged sexual assaults took place.  
Detective Chief Inspector Andy Redwood said tracing the man, whom police believe to have "an unhealthy interest in young white female children", is one of his priority lines of inquiry.Detective Chief Inspector Andy Redwood said tracing the man, whom police believe to have "an unhealthy interest in young white female children", is one of his priority lines of inquiry.
A computer generated image of the distinctive burgundy long sleeve top worn by a man that detectives investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann are looking for (PA) According to reports in the Evening Standard, police released an image of a distinctive red long-sleeved T-shirt believed to have been worn by the man, and urged any members of the public with information to come forward. British detectives are looking into the series of 12 break-ins, six of which involved a man apparently sitting on or getting into bed with young girls and two of which took place in Praia da Luz.
Detectives said that while the crimes were not identical, most are similar. There were no signs of forced entry, nothing was taken and the intruder appeared between 2am and 5am. According to reports in the Evening Standard, police said that while the crimes were not identical, most are similar. There were no signs of forced entry, nothing was taken and the intruder appeared between 2am and 5am.
Most of the offences took place in the low season and on two occasions people reported hearing the noise of a bin collection lorry nearby.Most of the offences took place in the low season and on two occasions people reported hearing the noise of a bin collection lorry nearby.
Detectives believe that the suspect may have been in a villa looking around “for some time” before committing the offences, and in some cases the parent or the child woke up and disturbed the intruder but police say the man stayed calm even when confronted. Police today also released an image of a distinctive burgundy-red long-sleeved T-shirt which two of the families described the intruder as wearing. One said it had a white circle on the back.
DCI Redwood said his team currently have 38 people classed as "persons of interest" to the inquiry, he said, and are also sifting through details of 530 known sex offenders whose whereabouts they cannot account for. A computer generated image of the distinctive burgundy long sleeve top worn by a man that detectives investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann are looking for (PA) Detectives believe that the suspect may have been in a villa looking around "for some time" before committing the offences, and in some cases the parent or the child woke up and disturbed the intruder but police say the man stayed calm even when confronted. He was described as speaking English slowly, with a foreign accent.
Mr Redwood said: "This is an offender who has got a very, very unhealthy interest in young, white, female children who he is attacking whilst they are on holiday in their beds.
"While I completely accept that there are differences (between the break-ins and the McCann case), there is no abduction that we can see, but the assumption from that is that Madeleine McCann has been abducted. That may not necessarily follow with all our thinking about what may have become of Madeleine McCann.
"It is really critical for us to identify this offender and prove or disprove whether he was involved in Madeleine's disappearance."
Mr Redwood said that if names are put forward, his team will be able to eliminate suspects from their inquiry, suggesting that police have DNA on file.
His team currently have 38 people classed as "persons of interest" to the inquiry, he said, and are also sifting through details of 530 known sex offenders whose whereabouts they cannot account for.
Of those 59 are classed as high priority, and some of those are British.Of those 59 are classed as high priority, and some of those are British.