The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
New suspect identified in Maddie case
● New appeal after ‘significant development’
AGerman prisoner has been identified as a suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.
The Metropolitan Police have not named the man, 43, who is described as white with short blond hair and about 6ft tall.
The German national is known to have been in and around Praia da Luz on the Algarve coast at the time Madeleine vanished on May 3 2007 while on holiday with her parents and her twin siblings.
A phonecall was made to his Portuguese mobile phone an hour before Madeleine went missing.
The suspect has been linked to a 1980s Westfalia camper van which was pictured in the area in 2007.
He has also been linked to a 1993 Jaguar XJR6 with a German number plate seen in Praia da Luz in 2006 and 2007.
Scotland Yard is launching a joint appeal with police in Germany and Portugal, with a £20,000 reward for information leading to a conviction.
Det Chief Insp Mark Cranwell said yesterday he was taking the “really unusual” step of releasing two mobile phone numbers as part of the appeal.
The first, (+351) 912 730 680, is believed to have been used by the suspect and received a call from another Portuguese mobile, (+351) 916 510 683, while in the Praia da Luz area on the night of May 3 2007. The caller is not being treated as a suspect, but is said to be a “key witness”.
Mr Cranwell said any information about these numbers “could be critical to the investigation”.
Detectives also want to speak to anyone who saw either vehicle in 2007.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy added: “This is a significant development.”
The incident room can be contacted on 0207 321 9251 or operation.grange@ met.police.uk