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McCann appeal gets 2400 contacts

UK police are working to prioritise more than 2400 responses to a renewed appeal for information regarding Madeleine McCann's disappearance in 2007.

Missing British girl Madeleine McCann's parents, Kate and Gerry McCann
(AAP)

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Source: AAP


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Detectives investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have received more than 2400 calls and emails after a renewed appeal for information.

The Metropolitan Police team revealed earlier this week that they had eliminated a key sighting thought to be of an abductor carrying Madeleine, and are now trying to identify a second man who was seen with a child in his arms.

Detective chief inspector Andy Redwood appeared on BBC Crimewatch to publicise the renewed appeal, as did Madeleine's parents Kate and Gerry.

The little girl, then aged three, vanished from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal in 2007, as her parents dined with friends in a nearby restaurant.

Mr Redwood said Madeleine's disappearance could have been a planned abduction.

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"Madeleine McCann's disappearance does, on one reading of the evidence, have the hallmarks of a pre-planned abduction that would undoubtedly have involved reconnaissance."

His team are looking at a spate of burglaries in the area that peaked in the month that Madeleine disappeared, and a number of bogus charity collectors who were pretending to raise money for needy children.

Police are also trying to trace various fair-haired men, possibly Dutch or German, who were seen lurking near the apartment at the time, and have made television appeals in Holland and Germany this week.

The BBC studio received 400 calls, the Dutch studio for programme Opsporing Verzocht more than 350 and the German studio for Aktenzeichen XY...ungelost, 500.

"Those inquiries are now being assessed and prioritised. Any deemed high [are] being actioned," Mr Redwood said.

"We have been very pleased with the information that is coming into the incident room. All of that material will be prioritised and actioned by the Operation Grange team."

An appeal is due to be broadcast in Ireland next month.


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