First photo of Cleo Smith’s suspected abductor shows him bandaged in an ambulance

The first images of Cleo Smith’s suspected abductor show a 36-year-old man bandaged in an ambulance.

The first image of the man arrested over the alleged abduction of Cleo Smith shows him heavily bandaged in the back of an ambulance.

Cleo was allegedly taken from the family tent while camping at Quobba Blowholes in Macleod, in Western Australia’s north, on October 16.

She was finally rescued from a house in nearby Carnarvon about 1am on Wednesday after detectives forced their way into the property and found her alone in a room.

A 36-year-old man has been taken into custody and is being questioned by police. No charges have been laid.

But 7 News has captured video footage of the man in the back of an ambulance.

A photo provided to NCA NewsWire shows the man under heavy police guard.

He appears to have head injuries and has a bandage around his head.

Lead investigator Detective Superintendent Rod Wilde told reporters police did not have any other suspects in the case.

“It appears as though it was opportunistic,” he said.

Police Commissioner Chris Dawson said the man, who was not known to Cleo’s family, was assisting police with their inquiries.

“I’m not going to elaborate further in terms of that man, other than to say he is a local man from Carnarvon, and we will be having something further to say later,” the commissioner told reporters.

“I once again want to reinforce my thanks to a great team, assisted by a great community — the town of Carnarvon can stand strong.

“Yes, we have one man in custody but that is not the town of Carnarvon — that is one person.

“I want the town of Carnarvon and everyone else to come together as a community as we move forward.”

WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson said a 36-year-old man was in custody. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Tony McDonough

Police are expected to be at the house Cleo was found in for days and possibly weeks forensically examining the property and searching for evidence as part of one of the biggest investigations WA has ever seen.

Dozens of bags of items and a large rolled up rug were taken from the home on Wednesday and put into police vehicles.

The man suspected of abducting Cleo lives just a few minutes from her family home and the local police station in Carnarvon, a town of just 5500 residents about 900 km north of Perth, where most people know each other.

Neighbours claimed the man had been “acting weird” and “strange” lately and that he had been seen purchasing nappies despite not having a child.

One neighbour said the man’s dog was usually at the back of the house but had more recently been at the front.

Some people were woken by the sound of police barging into the man’s home in the middle of the night to rescue the little girl — 18 days after she was taken from her family’s tent.

Henry Dodd said he saw the moment Cleo came out of the house being held tight on a detective’s shoulder.

“She looked at me and she was a bit scared,” he told 9 News.

WA Police Deputy Commissioner Col Blanch said intelligence led them to the house where they discovered the four-year-old.

“They went into that house. Cleo was in the house alone,” he said.

“I think the look on the officers’ faces said it all. They were shocked, emotional, they picked up Cleo into their arms. Just an amazing moment.”