Madeleine McCann: Police reveal details of attack in Praia da Luz two years earlier

A ten-year-old British girl was sexually assaulted in Praia da Luz two years before Madeleine McCann disappeared, detectives have revealed.

The attack took place in the “heart of the resort” in 2005, but details of the assault have only just been reported to police.

It is understood the victim came forward following an appeal by Scotland Yard last month in which police revealed a string of potentially linked sex assaults on young British girls across the Algarve between 2004 and 2006.

Few details of the assault in Praia da Luz were given, but it is thought the victim – who would now be aged 19 – may have only just revealed what happened to her in 2005.

It is one of five further sex assaults which have been reported to Scotland Yard’s Operation Grange since last month’s appeal, taking the total to nine.

Detectives are also looking at three so-called near misses, where an intruder was interrupted or disturbed before any attack could take place.

They are also looking at six further incidents that could have potential links, but may not have necessarily resulted in sexual assaults.

Those leading the hunt for Madeleine, who disappeared in May 2007, aged three, believe there could be some connection between the assaults and her abduction from the Ocean Club resort in Praia da Luz.

Last month they said some of the victims had given a similar description of the attacker as being tanned, unshaven, with dark unkempt hair and having a distinct odour.

He was said to speak English with a foreign accent and two of the victims described him as wearing a distinctive burgundy top, with long sleeves and a white circle printed on the back.

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Redwood, the senior investigating officer said his team had received around 500 calls following last month’s appeal.

He said: "As a result of those 500 calls, we have now identified a further five sexual assaults and one near miss. None of those six matters we were aware of prior to our appeal.

"In this new tranche of information we have got one crime which is very clearly in the heart of Praia da Luz in 2005, on a young, white, 10-year-old girl.

"Clearly the fact that we've now got an assault that is in the heart of Praia da Luz, very close to where a previous matter had been reported, means that we are even more interested in this as part of the inquiry."

He said: "I'm encouraged by the new information that has come to light as a direct result of the appeal in March.

“There has been a huge public desire to assist us with our investigation and I would like to thank those who have provided us with new information.”

Deputy Commissioner Martin Hewitt also revealed that Portuguese police have finally acted on formal requests from Scotland Yard and are expected to begin “operational activities” in the very near future.

Mr Hewitt would not be drawn on whether that would mean people brought in for questioning or arrests, but he said he hoped British officers would be involved on the ground.”

British detectives launched a fresh investigation into Madeleine's disappearance in July last year – two years into a review of the case.

After shelving their inquiry into Madeleine's disappearance in 2008, Portuguese authorities said last October that a review had uncovered enough new information to justify reopening it.

Portugal has declined to set up an official joint investigation with the Met.

Mr Hewitt said Prime Minister David Cameron and Home Secretary Theresa May have expressed a personal interest in the case, and stand ready to intervene to press the Portuguese authorities for help if necessary.

A spokesman for the McCann family said: “Kate and Gerry continue to believe fervently that Madeleine is still out there to be found and they hope this latest police appeal will lead to the breakthrough that everybody wants.”