Clue to McCann kidnap mystery
Police reveal that girl was assaulted in resort
IN the latest development in one of the world’s most notorious unsolved kidnapping mysteries, police have revealed that a 10-year-old girl was assaulted in a Portuguese holiday resort two years before Madeleine McCann disappeared.
The sex attack took place in the heart of the resort of Praia da Luz in 2005.
It is understood the victim came forward following an appeal by Scotland Yard last month in which police revealed a string of potentially linked sex assaults on young British girls across the Algarve between 2004 and 2006.
Few details of the assault in Praia da Luz were given, but it is thought the victim – who would now be aged 19 – may have only just revealed what happened to her in 2005.
It is one of five further sex assaults which have been reported to Scotland Yard in London since last month’s appeal, taking the total to nine.
Detectives are also looking at three so-called near misses, in which an intruder was interrupted or disturbed before any attack could take place, and any other possible related incidents.
Those leading the hunt for Madeleine, who disappeared in May 2007, aged three, believe there could be some connection between the assaults and her abduction.
Last month they said some of the victims had given a similar description of the attacker as being tanned, unshaven, with dark unkempt hair and having a distinct odour.
He was said to speak English with a foreign accent and two victims described him as wearing a distinctive burgundy top, with long sleeves and a white circle printed on the back.
Detective Chief Inspector Andy Redwood said his team had received about 500 calls following last month’s appeal.
“In this new tranche of information we have got one crime which is very clearly in the heart of Praia da Luz in 2005, on a 10-year-old girl.
“Clearly the fact that we have now got an assault that is in the heart of Praia da Luz . . . means that we are even more interested in this as part of the inquiry.”
Deputy Commissioner Martin Hewitt revealed that Portuguese police had finally acted on formal requests from Scotland Yard and are expected to begin operational activities in the very near future.
British detectives launched a fresh investigation into Madeleine’s disappearance in July last year – two years into a review of the case. After shelving their inquiry in 2008, Portuguese authorities said last October that a review had uncovered enough new information in the case to justify reopening it.
A spokesman for the McCann family said: “Parents Kate and Gerry continue to believe fervently that Madeleine is still out there to be found and they hope this latest police appeal will lead to the breakthrough that everybody wants.” – The Telegraph