Search For Israeli Mother and Daughter Missing in Vienna Intensifies After Hotel Room Found Empty

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — The search for two missing Israeli tourists in Vienna intensified Wednesday, after authorities discovered that the hotel room where the two, identified as Mali (50) and Liel (23) Yahalomi, a mother and daughter, had been staying was completely empty, with none of their personal belongings left behind.

The two women were scheduled to return to Israel after a trip to Prague and Vienna but failed to board their flight home. They have not been heard from since Friday, when they arrived in Vienna by train from Prague.

Family members said the pair’s initial lack of communication did not immediately raise alarm because they observe the Jewish Sabbath. Concern mounted, however, after they failed to attend a planned Sabbath meal and did not collect the kosher food they had ordered. Since Sunday morning, messages sent to their phones have remained unanswered.

Israel’s Embassy in Vienna has appealed to the public for assistance. The Israeli consul is coordinating search efforts with Austrian police and the local Chabad House.

Meanwhile, Ronen, Liel’s brother and Mali’s brother-in-law, flew to Vienna on Wednesday to join the search.

“Your mind runs through every possible scenario,” he said before departing. “We’re prepared for any news.”

According to Channel 12 News, after the women failed to respond by Sunday evening, the family contacted the Israeli Foreign Ministry’s emergency operations center. Family members initially tried reaching the apartment hotel where the two had been staying but were only able to speak with security personnel, who were unable to provide assistance. By Monday morning, Israel’s consul in Vienna had begun coordinating the search.

The consul also contacted the hotel management and the local Chabad House in an effort to gather information.

“I’m in direct contact with the consul and receive constant updates,” family member Elinor said. “At this point, there is still no lead that could help locate them.”

Authorities are urging anyone with relevant information to contact the family, Austrian police, or the Israeli Embassy’s emergency hotline in Vienna.

Reuven Timsit, a Chabad emissary in Vienna, told Kan News on Wednesday that investigators have yet to uncover any significant lead.

“Unfortunately, there is still no clue,” he said. “All of the local authorities are fully mobilized. It’s extremely worrying, especially now that they didn’t board their return flight to Israel.”

He described the situation as reaching “a very troubling turning point.”

“This means the story is more complicated than we initially thought,” Timsit said. “We’re talking about Vienna, not a remote wilderness. This is one of Europe’s busiest tourist hubs, yet there is no phone location, no credit card activity, no gas station record, and no useful security camera footage.”

Timsit said Austrian police have searched the apartment where the women had been staying and found that they had taken all of their belongings.

“There were no personal items left behind,” he said. “It appears they had already been on their way out of Vienna. Europe has open borders, so it’s possible we’re searching in Vienna while they may already be in another country where no one is looking.”

Addressing concerns over a possible antisemitic motive, Timsit said authorities have not received any unusual intelligence indicating an elevated threat.

“Vienna is generally a very safe city,” he said. “We have not received any reports suggesting heightened antisemitic activity or warnings to be on higher alert.”

Amir Rudnik, Mali’s brother-in-law, recalled the family’s last contact with the pair.

“On Friday, just before Shabbat, we exchanged messages in the family group chat,” he said. “The last message we received was, ‘We’ve arrived at the apartment. Look what a cool place this is. Shabbat Shalom, everyone.’ That was it. Because Shabbat ended late, we only tried contacting them again on Sunday. By that afternoon, we had already begun to fear something was wrong.”

As the search enters another day, Rudnik said the family’s focus remains on finding the missing women.

“The more time passes, the more you think about the worst,” he said. “But right now, our priority is finding them. We’ve also launched a crowdfunding campaign to help finance the extensive search effort.”