Global hunt for man who threw hot coffee on baby
Australian police are collaborating with international authorities to track down a man suspected of fleeing the country after pouring boiling coffee on a baby in Brisbane. The random attack, which occurred last month, left the nine-month-old boy with severe burns to his face and limbs. Queensland Police have issued an arrest warrant for the 33-year-old, who is wanted on charges of intending to cause grievous bodily harm, a crime that carries a potential life sentence.
Suspect has fled country
On Monday, authorities said their prime suspect left Sydney airport six days after the incident—just 12 hours before his identity was confirmed. The attack occurred on August 31, when the infant was at a picnic with his family. Witnesses described a "strange man" approaching the group and pouring a flask of hot liquid on the child before fleeing on foot. The baby received immediate first aid, and an off-duty nurse rushed him to her nearby apartment to treat his burns.
Child sustains severe injuries, requires multiple surgeries
The child sustained severe injuries that have already required multiple surgeries, with his parents saying his recovery will take years. Detective Inspectors Paul Dalton called the case one of the "most complex and frustrating" he has ever led and said the motive remains unknown. He confirmed that authorities know the suspect's name and the country to which he fled but withheld further details, citing concerns that releasing the information could jeopardize the ongoing investigation.
Suspect's background
The suspect, an itinerant worker who had been traveling to and from Australia since 2019, was not previously known to police. He had addresses in New South Wales and Victoria. Detective Inspector Dalton said the suspect was knowledgeable about "police methodologies" and had been engaging in "counter-surveillance activities" to avoid capture. On Monday, the baby's parents expressed to the media their "devastation" at learning the suspect had left the country but also felt relieved that he was no longer present.
'Living in fear, anxiety stress...': Boy's mother
The boy's mother said, "It sounds like they were very, very close in catching him." "I just want to know why, why he did this? These are questions that may always be unanswered." She added that the baby's physical recovery would take "years," but the family might never fully heal from the emotional trauma. "For me, personally, I've been living in fear, anxiety, stress," she said. Separately, a GoFundMe page for the infant has so far raised more than $150,000.
