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Police 'step up Madeleine search' | Police 'step up Madeleine search' |
(30 minutes later) | |
Portuguese police are stepping up their efforts to find Madeleine McCann, who has been missing for five days from a holiday apartment in the Algarve. | |
Officers said they had quizzed 100 people, followed up 350 pieces of information and searched 500 apartments to try to locate the three-year-old. | Officers said they had quizzed 100 people, followed up 350 pieces of information and searched 500 apartments to try to locate the three-year-old. |
But a reported sighting of Madeleine, from Leicestershire, was a case of mistaken identity, they said. | But a reported sighting of Madeleine, from Leicestershire, was a case of mistaken identity, they said. |
She disappeared from a resort in the village of Praia da Luz on Thursday. | She disappeared from a resort in the village of Praia da Luz on Thursday. |
'Great concern' | 'Great concern' |
Portuguese television had reported that a man and a child matching Madeleine's description were seen driving off in a car from the town of Nelas, about 300 miles (483km) north of Praia da Luz. | Portuguese television had reported that a man and a child matching Madeleine's description were seen driving off in a car from the town of Nelas, about 300 miles (483km) north of Praia da Luz. |
But Olegario de Sousa, of the Portuguese police, said: "It was not Madeleine. It was a child who looks like Madeleine, but she is a child who lives in the area." | But Olegario de Sousa, of the Portuguese police, said: "It was not Madeleine. It was a child who looks like Madeleine, but she is a child who lives in the area." |
Madeleine has not been seen since Thursday night | Madeleine has not been seen since Thursday night |
He said officers were maintaining a "high level" of effort to find Madeleine, as well as gathering evidence about her disappearance. | He said officers were maintaining a "high level" of effort to find Madeleine, as well as gathering evidence about her disappearance. |
The force had been criticised for not keeping the public informed, but officials have insisted that Portuguese law forbids police from releasing information about a live investigation. | The force had been criticised for not keeping the public informed, but officials have insisted that Portuguese law forbids police from releasing information about a live investigation. |
Mr Sousa's press conference, where he listed the action taken by his officers, came after intense pressure from the media. | |
He told assembled journalists than an area with a radius of 15km (10 miles) around the Algarve resort had been searched - along with hundreds of nearby apartments. | |
Antonio Santana Carlos, the country's UK ambassador, said the case was of "great concern" to Portugal and asked people to trust the police. | Antonio Santana Carlos, the country's UK ambassador, said the case was of "great concern" to Portugal and asked people to trust the police. |
Footballers including England captain John Terry and Portuguese players Cristiano Ronaldo and Paulo Ferreira, who both play in England, have appealed for anyone with information to come forward. | |
A set of pyjamas identical to the ones Madeleine was wearing | A set of pyjamas identical to the ones Madeleine was wearing |
Meanwhile, villagers in Rothley, where the McCanns are from, are holding a silent vigil to show support for Madeleine. | Meanwhile, villagers in Rothley, where the McCanns are from, are holding a silent vigil to show support for Madeleine. |
Staff at Leicester's three hospitals also joined in prayer for the McCann family. | Staff at Leicester's three hospitals also joined in prayer for the McCann family. |
Madeleine's father, Gerry, is a consultant cardiologist at the city's Glenfield Hospital and her mother, Kate, is a GP. | Madeleine's father, Gerry, is a consultant cardiologist at the city's Glenfield Hospital and her mother, Kate, is a GP. |
The McCann family have 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 when she disappeared. | The McCann family have 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 when she disappeared. |
She is believed to have been taken from her bed while her parents were eating at a nearby restaurant. | |
They were regularly checking on her and their two-year-old twins, Sean and Amelie. | |