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British girl's abductor could be British, Portuguese expert says
May 7, 2007, 10:11 GMT
Lisbon - The abductor of the three-year-old British girl who went missing in Portugal could be British, a Portuguese crime expert was Monday quoted by media as saying.
Jose Barra da Costa, a former chief inspector with the judicial police, said the abductor probably knew the habits of the parents of Madeleine McCann, who were out dining while she disappeared from her bed in the Algarve holiday resort of Praia da Luz on Thursday.
Witnesses had seen a tall man with short hair in the area, Barra da Costa said, adding the man may have been British.
The abductor 'knew more than just somebody passing through,' Barra da Costa explained, adding he may have known the McCann family and even Madeleine herself.
He had planned the kidnapping beforehand, leaving nothing to chance, the expert said.
Police meanwhile extended the search for Madeleine to a distance of 10 kilometres from where she went missing.
Thousands of people Sunday prayed for the girl's safety at churches in Portugal and Britain.
Madeleine, from Leicestershire, went missing from her family's holiday apartment on Thursday evening as her parents dined in a nearby restaurant.
Gerry and Kate McCann, both doctors, had taken it in turn to frequently check on their three sleeping children, Madeleine and her two-year-old twin siblings.
At around 10 pm that evening, Kate McCann found her daughter's room empty and the window opened, prompting immediate concern that she had been snatched.
Portuguese police are working on the assumption that Madeleine was abducted.
Police has received information from witnesses and created an artist's impression of a suspect.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-AgenturCOMMENT
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Older Talkback
page: 1
I am praying for the little girl to be found soon and alive and well. God Bless her and the family
Why the parents left alone a child with only 3 years old? It is already a crime.
I am praying for the little girl to be found soon and alive and well. And I hope that they find there little girl.
Yes I think to leave 3 children unattended is criminal. These people are meant to be educated.
The whole Country will looking for little Madeleine,I will.I think to try to incriminate her parents is not fair on top of their pain.Portugal is not a country of crime, does not use to be, we leave our doors open most of the time.Our resorts are peacefull, they use to be very safe.
I think the person(s) who kidnapped her had it well prepared and I pray that she be found soon. This whole Country is joining her parents in their anguish.
mss
The news about little madeleine has reached Ohio in the US, too. We hope for her very speedy and safe return. Everyone is praying for her and the family.
I advise whoever has her to return her to the police immediately.
Do the right thing before you are in more trouble.
Best wishes to the McCann Family.
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tanya cruzMay 7th, 2007 - 11:05:32
well i hope they find there little girl.well i come from portugal and portugal is my favourite country.i think it called be a brittish person who took her i dont think a portugues person could do that well i dont know but thats what i think.it could be that or that she got out of her room by herself becouse she got a nightmear and couldnt find her mum or daddy and she ust went outside to try and find them and maybe just got lost.well i dont know
i hope you find her and hope she will be normall.
lots of love!!!!
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