http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,91210-1265708,00.html
Sky News has learnt that Briton Robert Murat is being treated as a formal suspect by police investigating the abduction of four-year-old Madeleine McCann.
Robert Murat"There is a suspect," in the case, a spokeswoman for the judicial police said, without giving any further details.
Mr Murat was questioned with two other people yesterday and released last night.
Mr Murat 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 now consider Robert Murat to be an "Arguido" which translates as a formal suspect.
That means he is considered a suspect but can remain at liberty.
Crime correspondent Martin Brunt said: "I've spoken to Mr Murat's mother, Jenny. She says he was released some time over night.
"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."
Forensic officers and sniffer dogs began examining the Murats' villa on Monday morning.
Mrs Murat told Brunt that computer and communications equipment had been removed.
The Murats' villaBrunt said: "There is nothing to suggest this morning that police are any closer to finding Madeleine.
"But I do say that from other police sources we got the impression that there is - and I don't know where this stems from - a growing confidence that they will still find Madeleine alive."
Robert Murat is one of many people who have been interviewed over the disappearance of Madeleine.
Brunt said: "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 Mr Murat."
As well as Mr Murat, a German woman and a Portuguese man were also interviewed until late on Monday night.
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.
He lives with his mother Jenny, who is believed to own the villa being searched.
Madeleine: Missing for 12 daysShe has been running a stall on the seafront appealing for information about Madeleine's disappearance.
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.
Sunday Mirror journalist Lori Campbell reported Mr Murat to local officers as well as to the British Embassy and Leicestershire Police.
She said: "Basically, he surfaced on Friday afternoon last week and was walking around as if he was somebody official.
"But when questioned about it, he was very vague about his position. He said he just volunteered to help the police with their investigation."
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.
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.
A reward of more than £2.5m is being offered for information leading to her discovery.
Sky News has learnt that Briton Robert Murat is being treated as a formal suspect by police investigating the abduction of four-year-old Madeleine McCann.
Robert Murat"There is a suspect," in the case, a spokeswoman for the judicial police said, without giving any further details.
Mr Murat was questioned with two other people yesterday and released last night.
Mr Murat 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 now consider Robert Murat to be an "Arguido" which translates as a formal suspect.
That means he is considered a suspect but can remain at liberty.
Crime correspondent Martin Brunt said: "I've spoken to Mr Murat's mother, Jenny. She says he was released some time over night.
"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."
Forensic officers and sniffer dogs began examining the Murats' villa on Monday morning.
Mrs Murat told Brunt that computer and communications equipment had been removed.
The Murats' villaBrunt said: "There is nothing to suggest this morning that police are any closer to finding Madeleine.
"But I do say that from other police sources we got the impression that there is - and I don't know where this stems from - a growing confidence that they will still find Madeleine alive."
Robert Murat is one of many people who have been interviewed over the disappearance of Madeleine.
Brunt said: "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 Mr Murat."
As well as Mr Murat, a German woman and a Portuguese man were also interviewed until late on Monday night.
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.
He lives with his mother Jenny, who is believed to own the villa being searched.
Madeleine: Missing for 12 daysShe has been running a stall on the seafront appealing for information about Madeleine's disappearance.
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.
Sunday Mirror journalist Lori Campbell reported Mr Murat to local officers as well as to the British Embassy and Leicestershire Police.
She said: "Basically, he surfaced on Friday afternoon last week and was walking around as if he was somebody official.
"But when questioned about it, he was very vague about his position. He said he just volunteered to help the police with their investigation."
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.
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.
A reward of more than £2.5m is being offered for information leading to her discovery.
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