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Police 'unsure' Madeleine alive | Police 'unsure' Madeleine alive |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Portuguese police have said they cannot be certain missing three-year-old Madeleine McCann is still alive. | |
Chief Inspector Olegario Sousa said the question was "very difficult" to answer "because I have not facts to sustain that the child is alive or not". | Chief Inspector Olegario Sousa said the question was "very difficult" to answer "because I have not facts to sustain that the child is alive or not". |
Madeleine, of Leicestershire, is feared to have been abducted from a holiday apartment in the Algarve village of Praia da Luz in Portugal on Thursday. | |
Her mother Kate appealed to whoever was holding her daughter not to hurt her. | Her mother Kate appealed to whoever was holding her daughter not to hurt her. |
"Please do not scare her. Please let us know where to find Madeleine or put her in a place of safety," she said. | "Please do not scare her. Please let us know where to find Madeleine or put her in a place of safety," she said. |
Portuguese police said the search for the toddler was continuing. | Portuguese police said the search for the toddler was continuing. |
In a statement, police said on Sunday that they had widened their search to nine miles (15km) from Praia da Luz and were working closely with Interpol and Europol. | |
Chf Insp Sousa said: "We're searching for the child and until the moment she appears we can say nothing more because we are not magicians." | Chf Insp Sousa said: "We're searching for the child and until the moment she appears we can say nothing more because we are not magicians." |
He added that it was not possible under Portuguese law to give further details. | He added that it was not possible under Portuguese law to give further details. |
'Caring girl' | 'Caring girl' |
Mrs McCann, who had asked to speak to the media, said: "We would like to say a few words to the person who is with our Madeleine, or has been with Madeleine. | Mrs McCann, who had asked to speak to the media, said: "We would like to say a few words to the person who is with our Madeleine, or has been with Madeleine. |
"Madeleine is a beautiful, bright, funny and caring little girl. She is so special. Please, please, do not hurt her. | "Madeleine is a beautiful, bright, funny and caring little girl. She is so special. Please, please, do not hurt her. |
We beg you to let Madeleine come home. We need our Madeleine Mother Kate McCann Police under spotlight In pictures: Madeleine search | We beg you to let Madeleine come home. We need our Madeleine Mother Kate McCann Police under spotlight In pictures: Madeleine search |
Speaking in a televised appeal with husband Gerry at her side on Sunday, she added: "We beg you to let Madeleine come home. We need our Madeleine." | Speaking in a televised appeal with husband Gerry at her side on Sunday, she added: "We beg you to let Madeleine come home. We need our Madeleine." |
Her final sentence was in Portuguese - "Por favor, devolva a nossa menina" - which means "Please give our little girl back". | Her final sentence was in Portuguese - "Por favor, devolva a nossa menina" - which means "Please give our little girl back". |
About 50 volunteers have been helping to search the area for signs of the girl, including the clothes she was wearing when she vanished. | About 50 volunteers have been helping to search the area for signs of the girl, including the clothes she was wearing when she vanished. |
Her family confirmed she was wearing white pyjama bottoms with a small floral design and a short-sleeved pink top with a picture of Winnie the Pooh character Eeyore. | Her family confirmed she was wearing white pyjama bottoms with a small floral design and a short-sleeved pink top with a picture of Winnie the Pooh character Eeyore. |
She is believed to have been taken from her bed while her parents were eating at a nearby restaurant and regularly checking on her and their two-year-old twins Sean and Amelie. | She is believed to have been taken from her bed while her parents were eating at a nearby restaurant and regularly checking on her and their two-year-old twins Sean and Amelie. |
Search party | Search party |
Around the marina in the nearby town of Lagos, maritime police have been searching amid claims a man was seen with a small girl in the area. | Around the marina in the nearby town of Lagos, maritime police have been searching amid claims a man was seen with a small girl in the area. |
Police had said on Saturday they thought Madeleine had been abducted but was alive. | Police had said on Saturday they thought Madeleine had been abducted but was alive. |
Madeleine has not been seen since Thursday night | Madeleine has not been seen since Thursday night |
They have said they are not able to publish an artist's impression of a suspect because they feared it may harm the case. | They have said they are not able to publish an artist's impression of a suspect because they feared it may harm the case. |
Asked whether the family were being kept informed, Ch Insp Sousa said: "The family is the number one interest in the case but even then, they must be a little far from the investigation." | Asked whether the family were being kept informed, Ch Insp Sousa said: "The family is the number one interest in the case but even then, they must be a little far from the investigation." |
Mrs McCann found the outside shutter and window to Madeleine's room had been opened and her daughter missing shortly before 2200 local time on Thursday. | Mrs McCann found the outside shutter and window to Madeleine's room had been opened and her daughter missing shortly before 2200 local time on Thursday. |
Earlier local mayor Julio Barroso told BBC News 24 about 130 people were working on the case, including 80 detectives, some of whom had come from the capital Lisbon. | Earlier local mayor Julio Barroso told BBC News 24 about 130 people were working on the case, including 80 detectives, some of whom had come from the capital Lisbon. |
Mark Warner managing director David Hopkins said in having a meal nearby in what was a "very safe environment", the McCanns had "done nothing that I'm sure many parents wouldn't have done". | Mark Warner managing director David Hopkins said in having a meal nearby in what was a "very safe environment", the McCanns had "done nothing that I'm sure many parents wouldn't have done". |