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This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. Feel free to improve this article or discuss changes on the talk page, but please note that updates without valid and reliable references will be removed. (May 2007) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

The disappearance of Madeleine McCann occurred on the evening of Thursday, 3 May 2007 when a British girl, Madeleine McCann, went missing from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Algarve in Portugal, which she was staying in with her parents. Madeleine, who was in a bedroom with her two two-year old siblings, was initially thought to have only "wandered off" by Portuguese Police, but further investigation by Portuguese police suggested an abduction.

Appeals

There were many appeals for Madeleine's safe return ranging from her family to celebrities, and from the police for photographs.

From the family

Her father, Gerry McCann, said, "Words cannot describe the anguish and despair that we are feeling. Please, if you have Madeleine, let her come home to her Mummy, Daddy, brother and sister." He went on to say that the family would leave "no stone unturned" in the search for Madeleine and that he and his wife "remained positive."

Madeleine's aunt, Philomena McCann, drew up a poster to circulate in a chain email to help find the child. She also commented during a live phone interview that there was little coverage of the case in other countries apart from the UK and Portugal.

From the police

On 21 May, the British Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) reported that British police are calling on visitors to the Ocean Club Resort, Praia da Luz or the surrounding areas in the two weeks leading up to Madeleine’s disappearance on Thursday 3 May to provide copies of any relevant photographs taken during their stay, in an attempt to identify the abductor using a biometric facial recognition application, through which the features of bystanders in those photographs could be compared to those of international sex offenders and other criminals.

From sport

Football

Manchester United footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, who is Portuguese, made a televised appeal on MUTV for her safe return saying "I was very upset to hear of the abduction of Madeleine McCann and I appeal to anyone with information to come forward, please come forward." Chelsea and England footballer John Terry and his Portuguese teammate Paulo Ferreira said that they were "devastated to hear that young Maddy was abducted. Our thoughts and feelings go out to her parents, her family and we are urging anyone out there with any information at all, please, please, please come forward." On 11 May 2007, David Beckham also made a public appeal. "If you have seen this little girl please could you go to your local authorities or police and give any information that you have," said Beckham, holding up poster with a photograph of Madeleine.

After a picture was released of Madeleine in an Everton shirt, Everton's Portuguese footballers Nuno Valente and Manuel Fernandes appealed for any news on her whereabouts and Phil Neville issued the following statement on behalf of the club. "Everton has fans all over the world and I know that they, along with everyone connected with the football club, are hoping and praying for Madeleine's safe return. Our thoughts are very much with the family at this extremely distressing time." Manager David Moyes added "Everybody here is desperately wanting to hear good news and my thoughts and prayers are with the family. If anybody out there knows anything, please come forward". Celtic footballer Neil Lennon made an appeal for Madeleine's safety and yellow armbands were worn on 12 May 2007 against Aberdeen to mark her 4th birthday.

A video appealing for help with the search for Madeleine was broadcast to Spanish football fans visiting the city of Glasgow for the UEFA Cup final on 16 May. Another film was broadcast at half-time during the English FA Cup Final on 19 May. Prior to their departure for the Champions League final on Monday 21 May, Liverpool FC's squad were photographed with a banner appealing for any information on Madeleine's whereabouts.

Cricket

The England cricket team have been wearing yellow ribbons during their Test series against the West Indies to show their support for Madeleine. A picture of Madeleine was also shown on the big screen at the match.

From music

Girls Aloud have worn the ribbons on stage during their UK tour.

From Websites

A number of websites from members of the public have been set up on social websites such as MySpace. On Microsoft's UK website, the homepage is currently featuring an appeal

Reaction

The Portuguese ambassador in London, António Santana Carlos said, on 8 May, that the case was of "great concern" to Portugal and asked people to trust the police, amidst growing criticism of their handling of the case. President Anibal Cavaco Silva announced on 9 May that he was following the case "with great concern", adding that the police were "doing everything to find the child alive".

On 9 May, Tony Blair's spokesperson said that the Prime Minister was following the case closely and that "we are helping in whatever way we can". On May 16, coinciding with the launch of the fighting fund Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown told relatives of Madeleine that he would help "in any way he can". Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott also commented on the case, saying at Prime Ministers' Question Time "I'm sure that the thoughts of the whole House will be with them at this terrible time.".

On 26 May, a spokesman for the McCann family confirmed that Gordon Brown had contacted, and had conversations with, the McCann's via telephone. Though the spokesman stated that the details of the conversations would remain private, he did confirm that "During them, Mr Brown offered both Gerry and Kate his full support in their efforts to find Madeleine".

Popular culture

On May 9, ITV announced it would be rewriting a planned child kidnap plot, despite having already filmed some scenes, from their popular soap Coronation Street. Similarly on 23 May, the BBC also announced that it was scrapping an storyline from rival soap EastEnders , that had already been filmed, which also was to feature the kidnapping of a child.

In both cases these plotlines where removed or altered due to the parallel with the Madeleine case, and because the channels did not want to cause further distress to the McCann family. The BBC also stated that they did not want to upset other viewers and felt that the plot would have been "inappropriate" to broadcast at that time.

Rewards

The total rewards on offer currently stand at over £2.6 million including:

• £1,500,000 (€2,200,000) including £250,000 by the News of the World, £250,000 by Sir Philip Green, £50,000 by Simon Cowell and £25,000 by Coleen McLoughlin. Other contributors include Sir Richard Branson, JK Rowling, and Bill Kenwright.
• £1,000,000 (€1,470,000) by British businessman Stephen Winyard.
• £100,000 (€147,000) by a colleague of Kate McCann.
• (£10,250) €15,000 by Portuguese newspaper Record.
• £10,000 (€14,700) by The Sun.

External links

• Official site, with a link to the appeal Madeleine’s Fund: Leaving No Stone Unturned

1. "Holiday girl abducted, police say". BBC News. 2007-05-05. Retrieved 2007-05-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
2. Axel Bugge (2007-05-06). "Abducted girl's parents pray for her safe return". Reuters. Retrieved 2007-05-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
3. "Madeleine parents 'won't give up'". BBC News. 2007-05-11. Retrieved 2007-05-11. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
4. "Copy of 'Missing Madeleine' poster" (PDF). Sky News. Retrieved 2007-05-09.
5. "Madeleine's Family Send Out Email Poster". Sky News. 2007-05-09. Retrieved 2007-05-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
6. "Help find Madeleine McCann". Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre . 2007-05-21. Retrieved 2007-05-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
7. "Madeleine's Dad Arrives Back In Portugal". Sky News. 2007-05-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
8. ^ Cite error: The named reference portugalbbc was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
9. "Star Ronaldo in Madeleine appeal". Irish Examiner. 2007-05-08. Retrieved 2007-05-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
10. "Paedophile link probed in Madeleine hunt". ITV News. 2007-05-09. Retrieved 2007-05-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
11. "David Beckham appeals for information on missing toddler Madeleine McCann", International Herald Tribune, 11 May 2007
12. "Everton appeal for Madeleine". Everton F.C. 2007-05-11. Retrieved 2007-05-11. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
13. "Celtic players to wear yellow armbands". Celtic F.C. 2007-05-11. Retrieved 2007-05-11. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
14. "Spanish fans shown Madeleine film". BBC News Online. 2007-05-16. Retrieved 2007-05-19. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
15. "Candle-Lit Vigil And Prayers For Madeleine". Sky News. 2007-05-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
16. "Minute silence held for Madeleine". BBC News. 2007-05-21. Retrieved 2007-05-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
17. "England cricket team join support to help find Madeleine". Daily Mail. Daily Mail and General Trust. 2007-05-25. Retrieved 2007-05-26. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
18. Cite error: The named reference mirror criticism was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
19. ^ Cite error: The named reference iafrica was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
20. ^ {cite news | title = Brown offers help over Madeleine | work = BBC News | publisher = BBC | date = 2007-05-16 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6661113.stm | accessdate = 2007-05-26 }}
21. ^ "Brown offers support for McCanns". BBC News. BBC. 2007-05-26. Retrieved 2007-05-26. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
22. ^ "Street rethinks child kidnap plot". BBC News. BBC. 2007-05-09. Retrieved 2007-05-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
23. ^ Nathan, Sara (2007-05-23). "Enders cancel Maddie plot". The Sun. Retrieved 2007-05-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
24. "Madeleine reward rises to £2.5m". BBC. 2007-05-12. Retrieved 2007-05-12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
25. "Rewards For Madeleine Info Top £2.5m". Sky News. 2007-05-12. Retrieved 2007-05-12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
26. "£1m reward over missing Madeleine". BBC News. 2007-05-11. Retrieved 2007-05-11. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
27. "£1m reward in hunt for Maddie". The Metro. 2007-05-10. Retrieved 2007-05-10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
28. Cite error: The named reference Sky story was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
29. "Record oferece 15.000 euros". Record. 2007-05-12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
30. "Sun offers £10k poster reward". The Sun. 2007-05-09. Retrieved 2007-05-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

• Current events from May 2007
• Kidnapped children
• Disappeared people
• Crime in Portugal
• 2007 in Portugal