Madeleine McCann-Style Abduction In Canary Islands Leads To Arrest Of British Man

Man Arrested On Suspicion Of 'Madeleine McCann' Style Abduction
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Police have arrested a man hunted in connection with an alleged 'Madeleine McCann'-style abduction of a three-year-old girl in the Canary Islands.

The 62-year-old was arrested on suspicion of attempted kidnap in London last night, after a public appeal was launched by Thames Valley Police.

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This man has been arrested on suspicion of trying to abduct a child

In January last year a family from Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, were on holiday in Costa Teguise, Lanzarote, when a man is thought to have attempted to kidnap the girl in a shopping centre.

The victim's father noticed she was missing, left a store and spotted the youngster being led around a corner into an alleyway by a man who was holding her by the hand.

He shouted out and ran up to his daughter, pulling her away from the man who then left the scene.

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The family of the three-year-old took pictures of the man

The family were on the beach a short time later and saw the same man, who spoke fluent English, sitting between some rocks and acting suspiciously.

The victim's father confronted the suspect, but he left before police arrived.

But the quick-thinking family took photos of the man in an attempt to identify him.

Following the arrest, investigating officer Det Con John Swallow said: "We arrested a man in the London area in connection with this incident earlier today.

"The investigation is ongoing and I want to thank the public for their continued help."