Is this proof Madeleine McCann is in Morocco?

Sep 26 2007

A striking photograph of a small blonde girl taken by a holiday maker in Morocco was passed to experts working on the Madeleine McCann investigation tonight.

The image which shows a light skinned, blonde haired girl being carried on an elderly Moroccan woman’s back in a sling was taken just over three weeks ago in Zinat in northern Morocco by a Spanish woman.

Lawyers acting for Kate and Gerry McCann were passed a copy of the photograph today and it is understood that computer experts are to analyse it to check if it could be Madeleine.

Madeleine, four, went missing from her parents’ holiday apartment in Praia Da Luz, Portugal, on May 3rd.

Despite being declared suspects in the disappearance of their own daughter Mr and Mrs McCann have repeatedly insisted that they believe Madeleine could still be alive.

The photograph emerged after a series of other reports of possible sightings of Madeleine in Morocco were publicised in recent days.

It follows two sightings of a blonde girl matching Madeleine’s description in Marrakech on May 9th.

It was reported earlier today that there had been a third sighting of a girl matching Madeleine’s description in northern Morocco later in May.

But this is the first time that such a photograph has come to light.

Gerry and Kate are understood to have seen the picture, which was received by their lawyers earlier today.

It’s now expected to be analysed by experts at the Child Exploitation and Online Protection centre (Ceop) which is already scouring photographs taken by holiday makers in the Algarve around the time of Madeleine’s disappearance using high tech face mapping technology to identify potential suspects.

But it is hoped that the same technology could be used to establish whether the child in the image - which can be viewed on the website www.cope.es - could be Madeleine.

Clarence Mitchell, the McCann’s spokesman, said tonight: “We do not comment on any individual sightings however in this case the picture was passed to the relevant authorities as soon as it was received and Gerry and Kate are obviously keen for it to be analysed as quickly as possible.”

* The photograph was taken by Spanish woman Clara Torres, from Albacete, on August 31.

It is understood she did not at first believe that it could be Madeleine but, following recent reports of other sightings in Morocco, she passed the image to police in Albacete who are understood to have passed it on through Interpol.

The latest development follows a report from another Spanish woman who is convinced that she saw Madeleine in the town of Zaio in northern Morocco at the end of May.

The woman said she saw a girl she believed was Madeleine being led by a Moroccan woman in Muslim dress across a street.

It is reported that a gust of wind blew the child’s hat off, revealing her blonde hair underneath.

There have been sightings of girls resembling Madeleine across Europe and even as far away as North America over the past four and a half months.

So far there has been no news of Madeleine’s whereabouts or any evidence that she is still alive since her disappearance on May 3.

But tonight Gerry and Kate McCann were said to be anxious that the latest image is passed on and analysed as quickly as possible.