German Prisoner Identified As New Suspect In Disappearance Of Madeleine McCann
A new suspect has been identified in Scotland Yard’s investigation into the disappearance of Madeline McCann in 2007.
Police believe a 43-year-old German prisoner who travelled around Portugal in a camper van was in the area where the three-year-old was last seen.
Police have appealed for anyone with information about the man’s van and other car – a Jaguar – to come forward.
They believe the man was in the area that McCann was last seen around in May 2007.
The man, who was aged 30 at the time of the three-year-old’s disappearance, transferred the Jaguar into someone else’s name the day after McCann went missing.
DCI Mark Cranwell, who is in charge of the Metropolitan Police investigation into the incident, said: “Someone out there knows a lot more than they’re letting on.”
The force has said that it remains a ‘missing persons’ investigation because there is not any ‘definitive evidence’ as to whether Madeline McCann is still alive or not.
However, that’s in contrast to the German Federal Criminal Police Office – the Bundeskriminalamt (BKA) – who have classed it as a ‘murder inquiry’.
Scotland Yard has confirmed that the German authorities have been allowed to take charge of this aspect of the case, given that the man is currently incarcerated in their country for an ‘unrelated matter’.
They’ve also confirmed that the man has ‘previous convictions’, although no more information has been provided on what those convictions relate to.
German television broadcast an appeal for information at 7.15pm this evening.
DCI Cranwell confirmed that the man was known to frequent the Algarve area of Portugal between 1995 and 2007, and lived a ‘transient lifestyle’ out of his caravan, staying for ‘days on end’.
He was also known to have been in the Praia de Luz area – where the McCann family was on holiday – when she disappeared and took a phone call at 7.32pm that lasted until 8.02pm.
The police have also released the details of the phone number that was called, as well as the suspect’s number, adding that any information whatsoever could be ‘critical’ to the ongoing investigation.
They’ve also asked for the person on the other end of the call to come forward.
Cranwell added: “They’re a key witness and we urge them to get in touch.
“Some people will know the man we’re describing today… you may be aware of some of the things he’s done.
“He may have confided in you about the disappearance of Madeleine.
“More than 13 years have passed and your loyalties may have changed.
“Now is the time to come forward.”
