5 May 2007
Press Association National Newswire
John Bingham, PA, in Praia Da Luz, Portugal
The anguish continued today for the family of missing British girl Madeleine McCann as police revealed they believe she was abducted.
Madeleine's parents, doctors Gerry and Kate, kept a low profile, staying in a holiday apartment close to that in which their daughter was last seen.
The family's original holiday apartment is now being treated as a crime scene with police carrying out fingerprinting and searching for evidence.
Earlier Madeleine's father returned to the apartment alone and emerged carrying a suitcase and a bucket and spade for his younger twins Amelie and Sean.
Later the couple were seen walking between two apartment blocks with the twins accompanied by friends.
Madeleine's mother wore a pink and white striped vest top and jeans while her husband was dressed in jeans and a light T-shirt.
After leaving the twins in the care of others the couple walked through the complex hand in hand.
They later had a private meeting with the British Ambassador John Buck and three family liaison officers from Leicestershire police who were flown out to help the McCanns.
Earlier Madeleine's great aunt Nora defended the couple's decision to have a meal while their children were in the apartment pointing out that it was clearly visible from the tapas restaurant where they dined.
She said: 'They are doctors. they are intelligent people.''
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