The spokesperson for Gerry and Kate McCann has called for detectives working on Madeleine’s case to look into the foiled abduction plot in Cyprus.
Earlier this week, families told of their horror as they claim a gang of fake waiters tried to lure three children away from a Thomas Cook holiday resort.
Luckily, onlookers managed to stop them before they got the three into a waiting car. After the event, 15 families demanded to be moved hotels while others were so upset they cut their holiday short and came back to the UK.
The suspects all managed to break away and fled in getaway cars.“The question of whether child traffickers were involved in Madeleine’s abduction was always one line of investigation among many,” Clarence told the Star.
“If there is any suggestion of a connection between this incident and others in the wider European region than that is a matter for Operation Grange to investigate and to liaise with the Cypriot authorities.”
Holidaymaker Sean Paul McFarlane , 26, from Belfast, told how he foiled attempts to grab his son Thomas and a young pal, also seven.
He said a getaway car was parked in front of the hotel and struck five other cars as its occupants tried to escape furious holidaymakers.
“We haven’t eaten or slept since,” he told Belfast Live. “We are in a new hotel with security but we just want to come home.
“The child is distraught with nerves, he won’t even go into the toilet on his own. It’s a nightmare just thinking what could have happened. They were trying to abduct the children - there’s no doubt about that.”
A Thomas Cook spokeswoman said: “The safety and welfare of our customers is always our first priority and, upon hearing about the incident, we immediately deployed our experienced resort team to the property to provide customers in residence with individual support.”
She confirmed some holidaymakers were moved to other hotels, adding the tour operator was “working closely with the local authorities and the hotel”.