Claim there was as a previous attempt at an abduction from 5a.

[ShiningInLuz]

An article linked to that one http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1550732/Paedophile-abducted-Madeleine-police-say.html had a surprise "Police searching for Madeleine McCann, the British toddler abducted while on holiday in Portugal, fear she has been seized by a paedophile.

Officers have a prime suspect but were last night refusing to release any details, including a sketch, for fear of endangering Madeleine's life.
They believe the girl, whose fourth birthday falls this week, is alive and may be being held no more than three miles from where she was abducted. They fear they are now in a race against time to find Madeleine, known as Maddy, before she is murdered."

Were they already looking for this guy who had been hanging around apartment 5A?

The article linked to has a rather interesting photo in it.  Whilst the article is dated at 1 minute into 6 May 2007, presumably the photo dates to 5 May 2007.

IF that is inside Luz (i.e. not a search outside of town) THEN the only place that I know of that matches is the Mound, the area that SY searched in June 2014.

There is insufficient evidence for me to be certain of that.  But if everyone keeps a beady eye open for similar photos it may be possible to nail this.

Irrespective, this tells me 3 things.  That locals were out searching.  That the weather was hot and sunny at the time.  And that much could have been missed due to the height of the vegetation.

[misty]

The article linked to has a rather interesting photo in it.  Whilst the article is dated at 1 minute into 6 May 2007, presumably the photo dates to 5 May 2007.

IF that is inside Luz (i.e. not a search outside of town) THEN the only place that I know of that matches is the Mound, the area that SY searched in June 2014.

There is insufficient evidence for me to be certain of that.  But if everyone keeps a beady eye open for similar photos it may be possible to nail this.

Irrespective, this tells me 3 things.  That locals were out searching.  That the weather was hot and sunny at the time.  And that much could have been missed due to the height of the vegetation.

There appears to be some sort of structure at the centre top of the photograph. Does that look at all familiar to you?

[ShiningInLuz]

There appears to be some sort of structure at the centre top of the photograph. Does that look at all familiar to you?

I don't think that object is man-made.  I don't have an infinite memory for tiny details that seem to have no importance at the time, so I can't say if there is a feature like that near the mound, or not.

[Robittybob1]

Why would they mark Margaret Hall's statement "Very confidential"?

[sadie]

Why would they mark Margaret Hall's statement "Very confidential"?

That's an interesting question

[Anthro]

Why would they mark Margaret Hall's statement "Very confidential"?

Indeed. What could be the reason for that i.e. “very confidential”?

[Robittybob1]

Indeed. What could be the reason for that i.e. “very confidential”?

They wouldn't want to advertise the possibility of rats infesting the resort.

[Holly Goodhead]

T9 don't mention seeing/hearing rats nor any of the other guests?

It sounds from MH's description she claims to have seen the man around the front?

[G-Unit]

Why would they mark Margaret Hall's statement "Very confidential"?

Was that the PJ or Metodo 3, who actually obtained the statement?

[The General]

T9 don't mention seeing/hearing rats nor any of the other guests?

It sounds from MH's description she claims to have seen the man around the front?

Who labelled MH's statement as 'Very Confidential'? Mark Warner themselves?

[Holly Goodhead]

Who labelled MH's statement as 'Very Confidential'? Mark Warner themselves?

She said the parents were out playing tennis and then goes on to say she went outside at 00.30 to investigate rats?!  Did her baby sitting duties extend to rat catching? 

She seems to be referring to the front but refers to it as the back?!

[The General]

She said the parents were out playing tennis and then goes on to say she went outside at 00.30 to investigate rats?!  Did her baby sitting duties extend to rat catching? 

She seems to be referring to the front but refers to it as the back?!

Rats eh? In fairness, given that a few here believe it to be a backward, crime infested, lawless, almost 3rd world cesspit, you could be forgiven in thinking rats may be prevalent in such a dystopian hellhole.
Quite how she had the nuts to venture outside at that hour is probably worth pursuing.

[Wonderfulspam]

It was probably just some fella got caught short & took a leak in the bushes.

No, that would be too simple an explanation.

It must have been a Portuguese paedophile gang member casing the joint, that seems a more likely explanation, given the amount of abductions that have happened in the area......oh, wait, no that's right, there haven't been any.

[Eleanor]

It was probably just some fella got caught short & took a leak in the bushes.

No, that would be too simple an explanation.

It must have been a Portuguese paedophile gang member casing the joint, that seems a more likely explanation, given the amount of abductions that have happened in the area......oh, wait, no that's right, there haven't been any.

But there have been down the road a bit.  A couple even.

[Wonderfulspam]

But there have been down the road a bit.  A couple even.

Yeah, poor Joana.