New info in Madeleine McCann hunt: police appeal

Police are releasing new information tonight and appealing for the public’s help in the hunt for missing Madeleine McCann, who disappeared from her parents’ holiday apartment in Portugal in May 2007.
Screen grab showing "Crimewatch" reconstruction of actors playing Gerry and Kate McCann at dinner on the night of the disappearance of Madeleine. Photo: BBC/Metropolitan Police/PA WireScreen grab showing "Crimewatch" reconstruction of actors playing Gerry and Kate McCann at dinner on the night of the disappearance of Madeleine. Photo: BBC/Metropolitan Police/PA Wire
Screen grab showing "Crimewatch" reconstruction of actors playing Gerry and Kate McCann at dinner on the night of the disappearance of Madeleine. Photo: BBC/Metropolitan Police/PA Wire

Pictures of two men seen in and around the town of Praia da Luz at the time of the three-year-old’s disappearance have been released by British detectives and will be highlighted in an episode of “Crimewatch” on BBC1 at 9pm tonight.

The e-fit images are said to be of “vital importance” in the investigation and are based on the recollections of two witnesses of events and significant new developments in the investigation.

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In “Crimewatch”, Detective Chief Inspector Andy Redwood, the senior investigating officer, will ask the public to “look very carefully” at the e-fits.

Screen grab showing "Crimewatch" reconstruction of actors playing Gerry and Kate McCann at dinner on the night of the disappearance of Madeleine. Photo: BBC/Metropolitan Police/PA WireScreen grab showing "Crimewatch" reconstruction of actors playing Gerry and Kate McCann at dinner on the night of the disappearance of Madeleine. Photo: BBC/Metropolitan Police/PA Wire
Screen grab showing "Crimewatch" reconstruction of actors playing Gerry and Kate McCann at dinner on the night of the disappearance of Madeleine. Photo: BBC/Metropolitan Police/PA Wire

“While this man may or may not be the key to unlocking this investigation, tracing and speaking to him is of vital importance to us,” he says. “We have witnesses placing him in the resort area around the time of Madeleine’s disappearance.”

He added he would be travelling to ask for help from the public in Holland, Germany and Ireland, given the Portuguese resort’s popularity as a holiday destination.

Scotland Yard detectives have interviewed 442 people as part of their investigation, identifying 41 people of interest, including 15 UK nationals.

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Det Chief Insp Redwood said: “We continue to put Madeleine at the heart of our investigation and I would urge people to watch Crimewatch tonight and if you can help identify this man or have any information about our new appeal points please contact us.”