man never arrested, and released without charge
Update from Sky News.
British Man Released By Madeleine Cops
Updated: 09:48, Tuesday May 15, 2007
A British man questioned in connection with the disappearance of Madeleine McCann has been released by police in Portugal, Sky News has learnt.
Robert MuratCrime correspondent Martin Brunt said: "I've spoken to Robert Murat's mother. 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."
The Murats' villa is 100 metres from where four-year-old Madeleine was abducted. Forensic officers and sniffer dogs began examining the property on Monday morning.
Mrs Murat told Brunt that computer and communications equipment had been removed.
Brunt 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."
The Murats' villaRobert Murat is one of many people who have been interviewed over the disappearance of Madeleine. He has not been arrested or charged.
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.
A source close to the investigation said they were not under arrest but questioned as potential witnesses.
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.
She 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."