‘Wrong person’ at centre of Maddie probes

MADELEINE MCCANN may have been snatched from her Portuguese holiday flat only moments before her mother entered the bedroom to check on her.

British detectives said yesterday that the British child was abducted up to 45 minutes later than previously thought, meaning the wrong person has been at the cen- tre of police investigations for six years.

A man seen carrying a child of a similar age to Madeleine, who was 3 when she disappeared while on holiday in Praia da Luz, is now the main suspect.

While two computer-generated images of the white man were compiled in 2008, they have never been seen before. The e-fits were released in conjunction with last night’s BBC television Crimewatch appeal.

The programme said police wanted to trace a number of suspicious men, including charity collectors, seen in the area in the days leading up to Madeleine’s disappearance. Theories range from a ‘‘planned abduction involving reconnaissance’’, to the child being taken after disturbing burglars.

The new, central suspect was seen by an Irish family, the Smiths, between 9.55pm and 10pm on May 3, 2007, only a few minutes walk from the Ocean Club apartment complex where the McCanns were staying.

At about the same time, Kate McCann arrived at the flat to check on her children and realised that Madeleine was missing.

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Redwood, leading the Metropoli- tan Police’s fresh inquiry, said: ‘‘That’s a sighting of a man who, on the face of it, is clearly unexplained. And the child he has in his arms fits the descriptions of Madeleine McCann. This could be the man that took Madeleine or, importantly, there could be an innocent explanation.’’

Investigations have previously focused on a man seen 45 minutes earlier by Jane Tanner, one of the ‘‘Tapas Seven’’ who were dining with Kate McCann and her husband, Gerry. However, Redwood said there was a ‘‘revelation moment’’ in the inquiry when detectives concluded he was an innocent British holidaymaker carrying his child from a late-night creche. That means later events, such as the Smith sighting, are now more significant.

The Met has conceded that there is ‘‘no imminent conclusion’’ to the case.

The original Portuguese inquiry ended inconclusively and was closed. After pressure from the McCanns, the Met was asked by the prime minister to conduct a review in 2011 which moved into a full investigation in the summer. A £20,000 reward has been offered to anyone giving information leading to an arrest.