McCanns release image of 'suspect'

The parents of Madeleine McCann have released artist's impressions of the man they think abducted their daughter.The images were drawn from the eyewitness account of one of the couple's friends, Jane Tanner, who was with them the night the four-year-old disappeared in Portugal.They depict a man of southern European or Mediterranean appearance holding a child.The man is drawn by the artist with greasy, straggly hair, wearing a purple or maroon top and beige chinos. He is aged about 35 to 40, 5ft 6in (1.7m) tall, and of slim build.Crucially, the child, with her legs dangling, is wearing the same pyjamas as Madeleine on the evening of May 3.To ensure accuracy, where Jane Tanner could not be certain, the artist left details blank.The McCann's spokesman, Clarence Mitchell, said the release of the images was given the "tacit approval" of Portuguese police.Mr Mitchell said: "This is another important phase of our investigation into Madeleine's abduction and we hope that this picture will be a very important reminder to anyone who was in the area on that night who may have seen this man."We believe that this was Madeleine being carried away by a man from the apartment, so we place great importance on having these pictures produced."Anyone who knows this man should contact our confidential phone line immediately."© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.

» More on this story... «

ITN | October 26, 2007

Tags:. .investigation. .build. .believe. .away. .pictures