POTUGUESE POLICE CHIEF PRESS CONFERENCE
Madeleine Police Will Not Arrest 'Main Suspect'
Updated: 18:14, Tuesday May 15, 2007
Police searching for Madeleine McCann say there is not enough evidence arrest the main suspect, thought to be Briton Robert Murat.
A police press conference is being held in Praia da Luz, the resort where the four-year-old disappeared from nearly two weeks ago.
Chief inspector Oligeario Sousa said five properties were searched last night and a "formal suspect" was "interrogated".
Mr Murat was held last night and Sky sources were told today he was considered a "formal suspect".
But Chief Insp Sousa said Portuguese law prevented police naming the "main suspect".
"The main purpose was to collect information to bring back Madeleine," he said.
"Various material was seized.
"[The main suspect] was interrogated as much but no evidence was collected...[that could lead to his arrest]."
Mr Murat, who is British, was questioned and released last night with two other people.
He lives with his mother in a villa 100 metres from the apartment where Madeleine was abducted. The building was sealed off and searched yesterday morning
The Portuguese police said he was a "Arguido" which translates as a formal suspect. That means he was considered a suspect but can remain at liberty.
But they denied Mr Murat had voluntarily taken on the status of arguido - they said it was "as a result of the investigation".
Crime correspondent Martin Brunt said Mr Murat was now staying with friends in Portugal.
"Mr Murat's mother, Jenny, says he was released some time overnight," Brunt said.
"He is now staying with friends. She has advised him not to go back to their villa at Praia da Luz..
"She spoke to him by phone briefly and he is very upset. He believes the police are trying to find an Englishman to blame."
Mrs Murat told Brunt that computer and communications equipment had been removed from her villa.
Brunt added: "We know from our own sources that Robert Murat has been under some kind of electronic surveillance by police, probably for more than a week.
"So it looks as though police had been waiting to swoop on the villa and talk to him."
Mrs Murat has said her son was with her the night Madeleine vanished and that he had nothing to do with the abduction.
Mr Murat's cousin Sally Eveleigh said he was "only trying to help" with the investigation - and may have been over helpful.
As well as Mr Murat, a German woman and a Portuguese man were also interviewed until late last night.
Local newspapers are reporting that two vehicles are being examined by police - one a green German VW van, the other a Hyundai car. Both had pictures of Madeleine in their windows.
Mr Murat had become familiar to journalists in Praia da Luz since Madeleine was snatched from her family's holiday flat 12 days ago.
He told reporters he had a daughter the same age as the missing girl who looked very similar to her.
Mr Murat, who described himself as half-Portuguese, said he was helping the McCanns as a translator.
But journalists became suspicious and went to the Portuguese police with their concerns last week.
Madeleine was snatched from her bed on May 3 while her doctor parents Gerry and Kate, from Rothley, Leicestershire, were dining in a tapas bar opposite their apartment.
In the UK, Warwickshire police have confirmed they have been helping Leicestershire Constabulary - which has been working closely with the Portuguese authorities since Madeleine went missing.
A reward of more than £2.5m is being offered for information leading to her discovery.
