An international manhunt is underway for a man accused of throwing scalding coffee on a nine-month-old baby in a shocking, unprovoked assault at a park in Queensland, Australia.
The Queensland Police have identified the suspect as a 33-year-old foreign national, who fled the country just days after the alleged attack. Detective Inspector Paul Dalton confirmed Monday that the police are collaborating with international agencies to track him down.
The attack took place on August 27 at Hanlon Park in Brisbane, where the baby, named Luka, was sitting with his mother on the grass. The suspect allegedly threw a piping hot cup of coffee on the infant, causing serious burns to his face, arms, and legs. Luka has since undergone several surgeries for his injuries.
CCTV footage released by the authorities shows the man fleeing the scene, dressed in a blue plaid shirt, black hat, and glasses. Dalton said initial investigations were hindered by false information about the suspect’s identity and the suspect’s own efforts to monitor police activity.
“It quickly became clear that this individual was aware of police investigative methods and was conducting counter-surveillance, making the case more complex,” Dalton explained.
After the incident, the man took a cab to Brisbane’s city center before crossing the state border into New South Wales and eventually boarding a flight from Sydney on August 31. Authorities identified him two days later but were unable to locate him in time.
“I was in the operations room when we finally put a name to the face from the CCTV footage. There was a brief moment of relief, only to find out 15 minutes later that he had already left the country,” said Dalton, who declined to disclose the man’s destination, citing concerns about hindering the ongoing investigation.
The suspect has been described as an itinerant worker who had entered Australia multiple times on various visas since 2019, with his most recent arrival in January 2022. Despite extensive investigations, police have been unable to determine a motive for the attack.
“I’m still struggling to understand why someone would commit such an act,” Dalton remarked. “A rational person would not do something like this, but we’re not always dealing with rational individuals.”
The boy’s mother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, described the moment of the attack as “quick and chaotic.” She told local media, “I didn’t really comprehend what had happened. I just started screaming for help, shouting that my son was burned.”
Bystanders immediately rushed to Luka’s aid, dousing him with water before he was taken to the hospital. The child has since undergone multiple surgeries to treat severe burns on his chin, neck, chest, and back.
Police released the CCTV footage of the suspect on August 28, urging the public to help identify him. “The footage is very clear,” Dalton stated. “If you know this person, you will recognize him.”
Authorities have tracked the suspect’s movements across New South Wales and Victoria, where he had resided under different work and holiday visas. They have also interviewed several of his colleagues as part of their investigation.
Despite the wide-reaching search efforts, the man’s current whereabouts remain unknown. The investigation continues, with police hopeful that international cooperation will lead to his arrest.