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| Police 'suspect Madeleine mother' | Police 'suspect Madeleine mother' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Portuguese police believe the mother of missing four-year-old Madeleine McCann is involved in her death, a family spokeswoman has said. | Portuguese police believe the mother of missing four-year-old Madeleine McCann is involved in her death, a family spokeswoman has said. |
| Justine McGuinness said officers believed that traces of Madeleine's blood were in the McCanns' car, hired 25 days after she vanished. | Justine McGuinness said officers believed that traces of Madeleine's blood were in the McCanns' car, hired 25 days after she vanished. |
| Earlier, Kate McCann arrived for her second police interview in 24 hours. | Earlier, Kate McCann arrived for her second police interview in 24 hours. |
| She has been declared a suspect, or "arguida", by police. Ms McGuinness described the claims as "ludicrous". | She has been declared a suspect, or "arguida", by police. Ms McGuinness described the claims as "ludicrous". |
| The "suspect" status will allow the authorities to put certain questions to her, and also gives her the right to remain silent. | The "suspect" status will allow the authorities to put certain questions to her, and also gives her the right to remain silent. |
| The couple vehemently deny any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance on 3 May. | The couple vehemently deny any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance on 3 May. |
| Shouts and whistles | |
| Ms McGuinness said: "They [the police] believe they have evidence to show that in some way she's involved in the death of her daughter, which of course is completely ludicrous. | Ms McGuinness said: "They [the police] believe they have evidence to show that in some way she's involved in the death of her daughter, which of course is completely ludicrous. |
| "They have suggested that blood has been found in a hire car that they hired 25 days after Madeleine was taken." | "They have suggested that blood has been found in a hire car that they hired 25 days after Madeleine was taken." |
| THE NIGHT MADELEINE VANISHED Kate McCann tucks Madeleine into bed in their ground floor apartment.Mrs McCann and husband Gerry then go to a nearby tapas bar, which has a clear view to their apartment, to eat dinner. The McCanns said in an interview they checked on their children every half an hour.At about 2200 local time Mrs McCann returns to the apartment to find Madeleine missing from her bed.She goes back to her husband at the restaurant to raise the alarm and police are called. | |
| Meanwhile, friends of the family said that Mrs McCann has been told by her lawyer that she could be charged in connection with the disappearance of her daughter. | Meanwhile, friends of the family said that Mrs McCann has been told by her lawyer that she could be charged in connection with the disappearance of her daughter. |
| A large number of journalists and members of the public were outside the police station in Portimao to watch Mrs McCann arrive by car. | A large number of journalists and members of the public were outside the police station in Portimao to watch Mrs McCann arrive by car. |
| She entered the building to the sound of a few whistles and some shouts in Portuguese from the waiting crowd. | She entered the building to the sound of a few whistles and some shouts in Portuguese from the waiting crowd. |
| One British tourist shouted: "We believe you, Kate." | One British tourist shouted: "We believe you, Kate." |
| It is understood that Portuguese police have told Mrs McCann, 39, they have 22 questions they want to ask her during Friday's interview, although they have not told her what they are. | It is understood that Portuguese police have told Mrs McCann, 39, they have 22 questions they want to ask her during Friday's interview, although they have not told her what they are. |
| Lawyer present | |
| Ms McGuinness said: "Just before the session ended last night, the police made it clear they had some further questions to ask which would require her to be in arguida status rather than just witness status." | Ms McGuinness said: "Just before the session ended last night, the police made it clear they had some further questions to ask which would require her to be in arguida status rather than just witness status." |
| She added: "She is shocked and surprised in several ways. First of all that such an accusation could be made against her. And obviously she is concerned that such a line of investigation can become a distraction from further attempts to find Madeleine." | She added: "She is shocked and surprised in several ways. First of all that such an accusation could be made against her. And obviously she is concerned that such a line of investigation can become a distraction from further attempts to find Madeleine." |
| Madeleine, of Rothley, Leicestershire, disappeared from the family's holiday apartment while her parents were eating in a nearby restaurant. | Madeleine, of Rothley, Leicestershire, disappeared from the family's holiday apartment while her parents were eating in a nearby restaurant. |
| Madeleine was last seen on 3 May | Madeleine was last seen on 3 May |
| Mrs McCann had previously been interviewed before by police the day after Madeleine disappeared, but yesterday was the first time her lawyer had been present. | Mrs McCann had previously been interviewed before by police the day after Madeleine disappeared, but yesterday was the first time her lawyer had been present. |
| She was questioned as a witness until after midnight on Thursday. Police have previously said the McCanns are not suspects. | She was questioned as a witness until after midnight on Thursday. Police have previously said the McCanns are not suspects. |
| In a statement released before her interview yesterday, she appealed to her daughter's abductors, saying: "It is not too late - please let her go or call the police." | In a statement released before her interview yesterday, she appealed to her daughter's abductors, saying: "It is not too late - please let her go or call the police." |
| She said: "We came to Portugal an ordinary family of five. We just want to know what happened on 3 May and want to be able to go home one family, reunited." | She said: "We came to Portugal an ordinary family of five. We just want to know what happened on 3 May and want to be able to go home one family, reunited." |
| Mrs McCann will become the second formal suspect in the case. The first was Robert Murat, a British man living locally. He has not been arrested or charged. | Mrs McCann will become the second formal suspect in the case. The first was Robert Murat, a British man living locally. He has not been arrested or charged. |
| Mrs McCann's husband Gerry, originally from Glasgow, is expected to be questioned on Friday afternoon about Madeleine's disappearance from an apartment in Praia da Luz, Algarve. It's is not known whether he too will be questioned as a suspect. | Mrs McCann's husband Gerry, originally from Glasgow, is expected to be questioned on Friday afternoon about Madeleine's disappearance from an apartment in Praia da Luz, Algarve. It's is not known whether he too will be questioned as a suspect. |
| Blood traces | Blood traces |
| Samples, including suspected traces of blood, have been recovered from the McCanns' holiday apartment. | Samples, including suspected traces of blood, have been recovered from the McCanns' holiday apartment. |
| The UK's Forensic Science Service has spent the past month analysing them. | The UK's Forensic Science Service has spent the past month analysing them. |
| Portuguese police spokesman Chief Inspector Olegario Sousa said partial results from tests had been received, but would give no further details. | Portuguese police spokesman Chief Inspector Olegario Sousa said partial results from tests had been received, but would give no further details. |
| Last week, the McCanns launched a libel action against a Portuguese newspaper which claimed they killed their daughter. | Last week, the McCanns launched a libel action against a Portuguese newspaper which claimed they killed their daughter. |
| A public statement from the director of police followed, saying neither Kate nor Gerry McCann had ever been viewed as suspects. | A public statement from the director of police followed, saying neither Kate nor Gerry McCann had ever been viewed as suspects. |
| The McCanns have travelled extensively through Europe to raise awareness of the search for their daughter. | The McCanns have travelled extensively through Europe to raise awareness of the search for their daughter. |