This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/6627605.stm
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Holiday girl abducted, police say | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Police searching a Portuguese holiday resort for missing three-year-old British girl Madeleine McCann have said she has been abducted. | |
| Areas of the Mark Warner Ocean Club in Praia da Luz in the Algarve have been sealed off by officers looking for Madeleine, from Leicestershire. | |
| Her parents left her at their apartment on Thursday evening while they were at a nearby restaurant. | |
| Doctors Gerry and Kate McCann have spoken of their "anguish and despair". | Doctors Gerry and Kate McCann have spoken of their "anguish and despair". |
| Relatives have flown to the Algarve to be with the couple, who were holidaying with their three children. | Relatives have flown to the Algarve to be with the couple, who were holidaying with their three children. |
| Speaking to press on Friday evening, Mr and Mrs McCann, from Rothley, pleaded for the return of their "beautiful" Madeleine. | Speaking to press on Friday evening, Mr and Mrs McCann, from Rothley, pleaded for the return of their "beautiful" Madeleine. |
| Mr McCann, with his wife at his side, read out an emotional statement outside the holiday apartments on Friday evening. | Mr McCann, with his wife at his side, read out an emotional statement outside the holiday apartments on Friday evening. |
| "We cannot describe the anguish and despair we are feeling as parents of our beautiful daughter Madeleine," he said. | "We cannot describe the anguish and despair we are feeling as parents of our beautiful daughter Madeleine," he said. |
| "We request that anyone with any information relating to Madeleine's disappearance, no matter how trivial, contact the Portuguese police and help us get her back safely." | "We request that anyone with any information relating to Madeleine's disappearance, no matter how trivial, contact the Portuguese police and help us get her back safely." |
| 'Slow response' | 'Slow response' |
| The Ocean Club resort offered a creche service but the couple decided to leave Madeleine and two-year-old twins Sean and Amelie sleeping in the apartment. | The Ocean Club resort offered a creche service but the couple decided to leave Madeleine and two-year-old twins Sean and Amelie sleeping in the apartment. |
| They had taken turns to return from the restaurant to check on their children. | They had taken turns to return from the restaurant to check on their children. |
| Madeleine disappeared while her parents were at a nearby restaurant | Madeleine disappeared while her parents were at a nearby restaurant |
| Madeleine, who turns four next Friday, was last seen by her father at about 2100 local time. | Madeleine, who turns four next Friday, was last seen by her father at about 2100 local time. |
| When Mrs McCann went to check on her about an hour later, she found the bedroom's outside shutter and window had been opened and her daughter missing. | When Mrs McCann went to check on her about an hour later, she found the bedroom's outside shutter and window had been opened and her daughter missing. |
| Police were notified and resort staff and guests helped the McCanns search the complex grounds into Friday morning. | Police were notified and resort staff and guests helped the McCanns search the complex grounds into Friday morning. |
| Pictures of Madeleine have been widely distributed, and ports and the Spanish police put on alert. | Pictures of Madeleine have been widely distributed, and ports and the Spanish police put on alert. |
| Three Family Liaison Officers from Leicestershire Police are due to arrive in the Algarve at the request of the Foreign Office. | Three Family Liaison Officers from Leicestershire Police are due to arrive in the Algarve at the request of the Foreign Office. |
| Mr McCann's sister Philomena, criticised the Portuguese police for initially "playing down" their response to the disappearance. | Mr McCann's sister Philomena, criticised the Portuguese police for initially "playing down" their response to the disappearance. |
| She has been in phone contact with her brother. | She has been in phone contact with her brother. |
| Speaking from her home in Glasgow, she said: "The police have stepped up the search much more than before... | Speaking from her home in Glasgow, she said: "The police have stepped up the search much more than before... |
| "But he thinks it's just too little, too late. | "But he thinks it's just too little, too late. |
| "It was hours before the local police turned up and we're talking two bobbies that totally downplayed the incident and said that Maddie had maybe just wandered off." | "It was hours before the local police turned up and we're talking two bobbies that totally downplayed the incident and said that Maddie had maybe just wandered off." |