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The bodies of a 34-year-old woman and her 10-year-old daughter have been found inside freezers in an apartment in western Austria.

The deceased, a Syrian woman and her daughter, who had been missing for several months, were uncovered on the end of last week. The cooling units were concealed behind a false wall in the dwelling, situated in the city of Innsbruck.

Two individuals, a 55-year-old Austrian and his 53-year-old brother, were arrested in the month of June. The elder brother, a work associate of the female victim, informed police last week that there had been an unfortunate event—but disputed intentional killing.

Informing journalists previously, a representative for the legal authorities said the pair were being detained on "serious suspicion of intentional killing".

The identities of those concerned have not been disclosed by police, in following Austrian law.

The vanishing of the mother and child was originally brought to light by the female victim's relative, who lives in Germany, on 25 July 2024.

Police revealed the woman's colleague told them at the time she had embarked on an extended trip with her child to see her family in the nation of Turkey.

The victim's bank card was then discovered to be utilized overseas on multiple occasions.

However when investigators searched the victim's residence, her cellphone was located.

Someone also stated overhearing a disturbing sound in the dwelling, and cries of "mother" on the occasion the pair were thought to have disappeared.

An expanded official inquiry was initiated, with authorities discovering various messages sent from the mother's device—such as a resignation letter to her employer and communications to the 55-year-old suspect.

Authorities confirmed a amount in the thousands was also moved to the individual.

Katja Tersch told the press on that day that a rented space had been rented out before the vanishing and a freezing appliance had been positioned inside.

The two suspects removed the appliance from the facility on the date the mother and daughter went missing, she stated. And a week later, they obtained an additional appliance.

Officials say they believe this indicates the demise were planned in advance.

"The reason for their demise remains unclear due to the condition of the remains," she said.

A legal representative—of the public prosecutor's office—stated the specific order of occurrences is yet to be determined, but the remains were professionally hidden and went unnoticed during a prior examination.

While the brothers were arrested in the summer, it was only on the 12th of November that the 55-year-old acknowledged an event and to storing the victims. He rejects any murderous intent, authorities said.

At the same time, his brother confessed to a concealment but rejected knowledge of a homicide.

The pair are presently in pre-trial detention in jails in separate locations, approximately 189 kilometers away from each other.

Through a combined announcement, Austria's Minister for Women and the top legal representative declared the "reported homicide of mother and child... constitutes the sudden and brutal end of a mother and child and reveals a heartless setup".

"Women and girls are falling victim to homicide due to the sole reason that they are women and girls," they added.

"Gender-based killings are a deeply rooted and issue affecting all of society that we must combat firmly."