Katrice Lee Disappearance: Breakthrough As Police Launch Manhunt

Military police in Germany have made a breakthrough in the search for Katrice Lee, a daughter of a British Army Sergeant Major who went missing on her second birthday over three decades ago.

The toddler disappeared on November 28, 1981, from a Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes (NAAFI) shopping centre in Paderborn, Germany, where dad Richie was serving.

Now, however, police in Germany have released an e-fit image of a man they would like to speak to in connection with the case.

It was featured on Monday's episode of Crimewatch on the BBC. 

An eyewitness is said to have seen a man at the time of the disappearance carrying a small child into a green saloon vehicle.

WO1 Richard O'Leary, from the Royal Military Police, told the programme: 

"We have a witness who has produced a photo-fit of a man seen holding a child similar to Katrice and getting into the back of a green car. We want to know who that person is and if anyone can come forward."

"We have had some information back, and need to check and verify those details, but we were really grateful to receive that information and we will check.

"The Katrice Lee family have had a 36-year nightmare, not knowing what has happened to their daughter or sister."

"If we can help solve what happened to Katrice and give them some sort of resolution, that would be really good.

"If someone does know what happened to Katrice we'd like them to come forward, or if they had a green car themselves and had a child similar-looking to Katrice, we'd like them to come forward so we can eliminate them.

"There were 1,500 people in the shop that day so someone will have seen what happened."

MORE: Father Calls Military Investigation Into Missing Toddler A 'Sham'