FACTBOX - Austria's house of horrors

(Reuters) - A 73-year-old man has confessed to holding his daughter captive in a secret, windowless cellar in the Austrian town of Amstetten for 24 years, and fathering her seven children, police said on Monday.

Here are the main facts about the case:

IMPRISONMENT:

Elisabeth Fritzl, now 42 years old, disappeared in August 1984.

She says her father Josef lured her into the cellar of their house, drugging and handcuffing her before imprisoning her.

Her parents then received a letter in her handwriting saying they should not search for her.

From 1984 until now, Elisabeth was kept locked in the basement and abused by Josef, who fathered her seven children, the youngest of whom is 5 years old.

The police say they believe Elisabeth's mother Rosemarie was unaware of what was going on.

CHILDREN: