Europol joins investigation into disappearance of Melli and Liel Yahalomi - they may have left Austria

Europol has joined the investigation into the disappearance of Melli (50) and Liel (23) Yahalomi in Austria. Police assess they left the country, with no evidence of a criminal incident. Their phones were switched off on Saturday near Vienna's train station. The family describes unusual behavior, and the case has been transferred to the national unit for combating economic crime.

Europol is involved in the investigation into the disappearance of Melli Yahalomi (50, a banker) and her daughter Liel (23) in Austria. According to Vienna police, there is no evidence of a criminal incident or abduction, and the assessment is that the two left Austria. The family began to worry at the start of the week when the two did not respond to messages after the end of Shabbat. During the investigation, it emerged that their cell phones were switched off on Saturday morning near Vienna's train station, a puzzling step given their observance of Shabbat. A review of security cameras is ongoing to determine if they boarded a train. The investigation file has been transferred to the national unit for combating economic crime (YALAK). The family describes the behavior as uncharacteristic, with no background incidents. A gag order has been imposed on the investigation. A family member noted that the flight back yesterday was from Prague to Ben Gurion Airport, and they were supposed to return to Prague and then come home in the evening.