By Resident staff
A change in the journalistic faces was apparent this morning (Monday, May 7) as we arrived at the scene which has now become the focus of the world’s media following the abduction of 3-year-old Madeleine McCann from her holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in the western Algarve.
The feeling was one of total and utter confusion, with no concrete information, press releases or statements forthcoming from the authorities. In fact all appears eerily quiet except for the sound of generators powering the television cameras.
The search zone has now been extended to a 10km radius from the complex. The criminal police (the Polícia Judiciaria) were said to be investigating further leads, including the questioning of domestic personnel for the resort ranging from gardeners to cleaning staff, all of who had to produce their identification documents and answer questions.
Dog search teams have received a new instructions and, following a full briefing, will be returning to the north, west and east of Praia da Luz, at around 3pm today, areas that are overgrown with grass, trees and brush. Sniffer, rescue and drugs dogs are now being used in tandem to allow a wider area to be searched more effectively and quickly.
A press conference is expected at 4pm – unless they cancel again through lack of new information.
Updated 13:50, may 7, 2007
