The dark-skinned woman, wearing
a hijab head-dress, spoke in a
different language, possibly
broken French.
Police interviewed the guard,
who speaks fluent Flemish, Dutch
and English, on Thursday.
They also seized film from five
closed-circuit cameras.
Footage first shows the girl
being led along a quiet street
named Ulensstraat, in the run-
down immigrant area of Molenbeek.
The pair are heading towards the
Vergotedok canal.
The back view shows the mystery
woman is dressed in black
trousers, a white coat and a
black headscarf.
The
child has a fringe like
Madeleine’s.
She has on a white jumper with a
pink waistband, a pink tartan
skirt and beige boots.
The bank security guard can be
seen coming out of the building.
He watches them reach the end of
the street and follows.
A
second camera then films the
pair from the front in the
Avenue du Port.
The woman is North African or
Arabic with thick black
eyebrows. She has on a patterned
black top and white shoes and
appears to be pregnant.
Camera three sees them turn on
to a main road. They walk slowly
and stop and start. The woman
briefly lets go of the girl’s
hand to check her mobile.
They then passed out of view of
cameras — but the guard saw them
pause briefly at the canal. The
woman said something and they
retraced their steps.
A
fourth camera shows the girl
wriggle and pull at the adult’s
hand with both hers.
The woman crouches to speak to
her. Final images show the guard
watching them pass again.
The girl turns her head and
takes a long look at him.
A
source said: “The guard thought
something weird was going on and
noted the time. When he saw a
photo of Maddie next day, he was
sure it was her and called the
police.”
The Sun first revealed the
alleged sighting on Saturday.
McCann spokesman Clarence
Mitchell said last night: “We’re
extremely grateful to The Sun
for providing the footage. It is
potentially very significant.
“Kate and Gerry have seen the
material. It is being enhanced
as a priority in the United
States.”
Brussels police decided the CCTV
was a strong lead and passed it
to federal cops on Friday.
Portuguese files made public
last month contained 107 reports
linking Maddie with Belgium and
Holland.
Scotland Yard asked Belgian cops
to investigate if Maddie was
snatched by a paedophile ring in
their country.
Kate and Gerry, both 40, of
Rothley, Leics, were official
suspects in Maddie’s
disappearance until last month
but have always said she was
abducted.
l.hagan@the-sun.co.uk
