A British man living just yards from where Madeleine McCann was abducted was tonight at the centre of the investigation — although police conceded no evidence had been collected to justify putting him formally under arrest.
Robert Murat, 33, who had been helping the McCanns with translation during the traumatic days following her disappearance, today became the first person to be officially classed as a suspect by police.
He was questioned as a "witness" alongside a German woman and a Portuguese man last night before all three were released.
But today Portugal's Policia Judiciaria (PJ) announced that the man taken from the house had been declared an arguido (a suspect or defendant).
Briton officially classed as a
But he has not been charged or even formally arrested.
Intense police activity centred on Mr Murat's mother's villa in Praia Da Luz last night.
While he was taken in for questioning, forensics experts and police searched the premises and were seen removing items including video tapes.
He was not under arrest but today, hours after his release, police confirmed that the man taken from the house was now being treated as an arguido.
It is the first time that detectives have taken the step of declaring an individual a suspect.
Police tonight denied reports that the man had voluntarily become a suspect in order to be given certain legal rights such as the right to remain silent and the right to legal representation.
Madeleine was snatched from her bed in the resort town of Praia Da Luz on May 3 while her parents were dining nearby.
There has been no news of her whereabouts since.
Mr Murat was reported to the police by a British journalist who was suspicious of his interest in the investigation.
A former property developer, Mr Murat had been working as a translator, assisting the McCanns to get over the language barrier during the days after Madeleine's disappearance.
In a statement tonight the PJ said: "Further to investigations on Madeleine McCann's disappearance we are to inform that efforts have been focused on some lines of investigation which show a higher consistency.
"During the information collection last weekend one of those lines under investigation achieved strength and consistency.
"Thus it was necessary to carry out different house searches."
The PJ revealed that five searches had been conducted yesterday in a bid to locate and bring back Madeleine.
The police said that "various material" which belonged to the suspect was seized for analysis and forensic examination carried out.
The statement said that two further people in addition to the suspect were interviewed.
The PJ confirmed that a 33-year-old man living in the area had been classed as a suspect but said no evidence had been collected to justify putting him formally under arrest.
It added that investigations are continuing directly related to yesterday's searches.
PA