The desperate parents of a little girl who went missing from her Portuguese holiday apartment while they dined nearby are praying for good news.
Three-year-old Madeleine McCann was last seen sleeping soundly by father Gerry at around 9pm on Thursday night at the Ocean Club resort in the seaside village of Praia Da Luz in the south-western Algarve.
But at 10pm when her mother Kate went to check, she found the shutter slid up, the bedroom window open and her daughter - described as "happy-go-lucky" - gone.
Fellow holidaymakers, staff from British travel firm Mark Warner, which has run the resort for two years, and police spent most of the night searching frantically for the toddler.
Fears are now growing that Madeleine was taken against her will. Her anguished parents, both 38 and doctors, have accused Portuguese police of not doing enough to find her.
Madeleine, who turns four next Friday, and her two-year-old twin brother and sister Sean and Amelie were left in their apartment alone as their parents dined at the tapas restaurant 200 yards away. The resort offered a creche service but the couple opted to leave the children sleeping at the apartment, taking turns to check on them at regular intervals.
Madeleine's aunt, Trish Cameron, who lives in Dumbarton near Glasgow, said her brother, Gerry, called her on Thursday night "breaking his heart". She said his wife had gone to check on the children and "came out screaming".
The British Ambassador to Portugal, John Stephen Buck, was travelling to the Algarve, as was Mark Warner UK Operations Director Craig Mayhew and a counsellor. Ocean Club manager John Hill said police showed no signs of letting up in their search, and the McCanns remain at the police station in Portimao helping police piece together what has happened.
Mr Hill said: "My focus is now on supporting the family and their friends here. They are just devastated."
Madeleine's aunt, Trish Cameron, who lives in Dumbarton near Glasgow, said her brother, Gerry, called her on Thursday night "breaking his heart". She said his wife had gone to check on the children and "came out screaming".
This is every parents worst nightmare. May Allah accept our duaas and bring her back safe and sound and give her parents sabr inshaAllah.
Like you all I hope the child is swiftly found safe and sound.
But... the parents are hardly in a position to criticise anybody. They left a two year old and a three year old while they went out to eat at a restaurant?! 'Regular checks' hardly cuts it... they should have stayed in and if they couldn't get a babysitter, or left the kids at the creche which was available. What were they thinking?
inshaAllah she will be found alive, safe and unharmed
Our Lord! Verily, we have heard the call of one calling to Faith: 'Believe in your Lord,' and we have believed.
Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and expiate from us our evil deeds, and make us die (in the state of righteousness) along with Al-Abrar
May Allah bring her back to them safely Ameen! But I am also upset at the parents leaving the children alone in the hotel, they must've been out of their minds!
May Allah guard the innocent child.
What buffoons for parents they leave a delicate little child alone. Well at least they are concerned and must be going through a hard time. Ameen to the dua's for the little child.
May Allah bring her back to them safely Ameen! But I am also upset at the parents leaving the children alone in the hotel, they must've been out of their minds!
May Allah keep her safe Ameen
Exactly SubhanAllah. Prehaps because they were so close they thought it would be no big deal? SubhanAllah may Allah protect this child Ameen
The Creator الْخَالِقُ The Makerالْبَارِئُ The Fashionerالْمُصَوِّرُ
:enough!: Getting entirely fed up with the foolishness :enough!:
Really sad situation for the family, May Allah swt bring her back safe and healthy.
There have been a few situation which I'm sure others might have experianced when a little family member goes missing for a bit around the house and it's one of the most freighting things ever.
For clarification, and anyone who is blaming the parents for their negligence & the abduction of their daughter...
The Mark Warner Ocean Club in Praia da Luz is an all inclusive private resort complex.
Mr & Mrs McCann were were literally yards from their children and checked on them at regular intervals. Although this may seem naive or negligent, the resort is a family-friendly and secure environment for children, so anyone must surely be able to understand why the parents felt they could be off their guard that evening?
Whatever happens, we must support them & offer our sympathy, as whether or not Madeleine is found, Mr & Mrs McCann have already assigned themselves a life-sentence of guilt and remorse.
I agree. I doubt they'd have left the children if they had the slightest doubt about them being at risk. What's happened has happened, we should dwell on praying for the child's safe return.
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Getting entirely fed up with the foolishness
to keep at least other people out from their luxury place.
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