Israeli Mother and Daughter Missing in Vienna Found Hotel Rooms Empty Amid Ongoing Search

Mali and Liel Yahalomi, an Israeli mother and daughter reported missing in Vienna, were last seen after traveling from Prague by train. Their hotel rooms in Vienna were found completely empty without any personal belongings, raising concerns as extensive searches continue. The two did not board their scheduled flight back to Israel, and contact was lost since Friday, the day they arrived in Vienna. Initially, their family was not alarmed due to their observance of the Sabbath, but worry increased when they missed the Sabbath meal and did not collect their kosher food.

Since Sunday morning, messages sent to them have remained unread, showing only a single blue check mark. The Israeli Embassy in Vienna has appealed for public assistance, with the Israeli consul coordinating the search alongside local police and Chabad representatives. Ronen, Liel and Mali's brother and son respectively, flew to Vienna to join the search efforts, stating he is prepared for all scenarios. The family also opened a case with Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs after failing to reach the women or the hotel management, who could only connect them to security personnel unable to help.

Chabad emissary Reuven Timsit described the situation as very worrying, noting the lack of any leads such as phone tracking, credit card use, or surveillance footage. Authorities have searched the apartment and found no belongings, suggesting the women may have left Vienna. The open borders within Europe complicate the search, as they could be in another country where no search is underway. Timsit dismissed antisemitism as a likely cause, emphasizing Vienna's safety and absence of unusual alerts.

Family members shared their last communications with the women, which were positive and normal before contact ceased. They have since launched a crowdfunding campaign to support the costly search efforts. Authorities urge anyone with relevant information to contact the family, local police, or the Israeli Embassy's emergency hotline in Vienna.