MISSING IN VIENNA: Israeli Police Probe Escape, Criminal And Nationalistic Scenarios As Search For Mother And Daughter Intensifies

Nearly a week after Israeli mother and daughter Mali and Liel Yahalomi disappeared in Vienna, investigators have uncovered security camera footage showing the pair leaving their apartment on their own while carrying their belongings. No other person was seen accompanying them. A later search of the apartment confirmed that the two women had taken their possessions with them when they departed.

The last known signal from their phones was recorded Saturday morning near Vienna's central train station, approximately a 20-minute walk from where they were staying. Authorities are now reviewing surveillance footage from the station area to determine their next movements.

Based on these findings, investigators increasingly believe the mother and daughter left Vienna and may have traveled to another European country. One possibility under examination is that they boarded a train and traveled elsewhere. The search has been expanded beyond Austria's borders.

The investigation is now being handled by Israel Police's Lahav 433 national crime unit and is being conducted jointly with Vienna Police. A court has imposed a gag order on details.

"The working assumption is that they are alive," A senior source involved in the investigation told Channel 12. "We are checking whether this entire event was planned, meaning whether the mother and daughter planned an escape from the country, or whether this was some kind of criminal incident that we do not know about." Authorities are also examining whether a nationalistic motive could be involved. "Nothing has been ruled out. Everything is being checked. There are a lot of question marks," The source said.

The family has contested suggestions that investigators have reached conclusions about the disappearance, stating they have information contradicting some claims and demanding that authorities continue examining the possibility of a nationalistically motivated incident. Mali's brother, Ronen Yahalomi, told Ynet that Liel had arranged the European trip as a birthday surprise for their mother, with an itinerary that included Prague and Vienna. Ronen has since traveled to Austria and remained in contact with authorities and local officials.

Israel Police Commissioner Danny Levy has convened a special situation assessment and ordered that all necessary resources be made available to the investigation.