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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Mother fears daughter was 'taken' | Mother fears daughter was 'taken' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The mother of missing schoolgirl Shannon Matthews has said she fears her daughter has been abducted by someone known to the family. | The mother of missing schoolgirl Shannon Matthews has said she fears her daughter has been abducted by someone known to the family. |
| Karen Matthews said the nine-year-old, who was last seen leaving her school in Dewsbury on 19 February, was not the kind of girl to run away. | Karen Matthews said the nine-year-old, who was last seen leaving her school in Dewsbury on 19 February, was not the kind of girl to run away. |
| Stepfather Craig Meehan also denied accusations that he hit the youngster. | Stepfather Craig Meehan also denied accusations that he hit the youngster. |
| Mrs Matthews said Shannon was not unhappy at home and added: "She's got abducted. That's all I can say." | Mrs Matthews said Shannon was not unhappy at home and added: "She's got abducted. That's all I can say." |
| Asked if she thought it was someone she knew, the mother-of-seven said: "It seems that way because there's no trace of her at all. | Asked if she thought it was someone she knew, the mother-of-seven said: "It seems that way because there's no trace of her at all. |
| "There's no trace of her swimming costume, her towel or anything like that that she's taken with her." | "There's no trace of her swimming costume, her towel or anything like that that she's taken with her." |
| Mrs Matthews told the BBC's Radio 4 Today programme that she believed the reason someone had taken her daughter was to get at her. | Mrs Matthews told the BBC's Radio 4 Today programme that she believed the reason someone had taken her daughter was to get at her. |
| Asked why someone would do it, she said: "Just to hurt me, really." | Asked why someone would do it, she said: "Just to hurt me, really." |
| Shannon's stepfather also denied accusations made by other family members that Shannon was unhappy at home. He said he had a "good" relationship with the youngster. | Shannon's stepfather also denied accusations made by other family members that Shannon was unhappy at home. He said he had a "good" relationship with the youngster. |
| Shannon Matthews has been missing for three weeks | Shannon Matthews has been missing for three weeks |
| Mr Meehan said: "To me I know it's not true. All I'm focusing on is finding Shannon. I want her home. | Mr Meehan said: "To me I know it's not true. All I'm focusing on is finding Shannon. I want her home. |
| "Even her real dad believes me. He says Shannon has always looked up to me." | "Even her real dad believes me. He says Shannon has always looked up to me." |
| The pair said they thought comparisons made between them and the case of missing Madeline McCann were "unfair". | The pair said they thought comparisons made between them and the case of missing Madeline McCann were "unfair". |
| Mr Meehan said: "It's two families from two different backgrounds and they shouldn't be compared." | Mr Meehan said: "It's two families from two different backgrounds and they shouldn't be compared." |
| Mrs Matthews said she had not given up hope of finding her daughter alive. | Mrs Matthews said she had not given up hope of finding her daughter alive. |
| "Police have said prepare for the worst, but we are not going to be doing that. At the moment we know she's out there." | "Police have said prepare for the worst, but we are not going to be doing that. At the moment we know she's out there." |
| West Yorkshire Police said the operation was the biggest missing person's case it had undertaken since the hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper. | West Yorkshire Police said the operation was the biggest missing person's case it had undertaken since the hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper. |
| Det Supt Andy Brennan, who is leading the overall search for Shannon, has said he is "gravely concerned" for Shannon. | Det Supt Andy Brennan, who is leading the overall search for Shannon, has said he is "gravely concerned" for Shannon. |
| He said officers were about two-thirds of the way through a list of 3,000 residential and commercial premises which were being thoroughly searched. | He said officers were about two-thirds of the way through a list of 3,000 residential and commercial premises which were being thoroughly searched. |