BRISBANE, Australia — Australian authorities are working with international law enforcement agencies to locate a man who allegedly fled the country after a brutal attack with boiling coffee that left a nine-month-old baby with severe burns.
The incident, which occurred in August 2024 in a Brisbane park, has shocked the nation and sparked an international manhunt.
Queensland Police have issued an arrest warrant for a 33-year-old man wanted for acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm.
The charge carries a potential life sentence.
Police revealed that the suspect left Australia just six days after the attack, boarding a flight from Sydney airport just 12 hours before investigators were able to confirm his identity.
The attack took place on August 31, when the infant was at a picnic with his family in a suburban park.
Witnesses reported seeing a “strange man” approach the child before pouring boiling coffee from a flask onto the baby and fleeing on foot.
The baby suffered serious burns to his face and limbs and required immediate first aid.
A bystander and off-duty nurse quickly intervened, rushing the baby to her nearby apartment to treat his burns under cold water. Despite the swift response, the injuries were severe.
The child has since undergone multiple surgeries and faces a long and painful recovery process.
Queensland Police have described the case as “one of the most complex and frustrating” they have handled.
Detective Inspector Paul Dalton confirmed that investigators know the suspect’s name and the country to which he fled but have withheld further details to avoid jeopardizing the investigation.
“This individual is aware of police methodologies and has been conducting counter-surveillance activities to evade capture,” Det. Insp. Dalton told the media.
He also revealed that the suspect, an itinerant worker, had been traveling to Australia since 2019 and had addresses in both New South Wales and Victoria.
The baby’s parents expressed their heartbreak upon learning that the suspect had fled the country.
Speaking to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the mother said, “It sounds like they were very, very close to catching him, and this obviously means that we’re going to have to wait who knows how long to get justice for our son.”
The father added that despite the ordeal, their son was in “good spirits” but may still require additional skin graft surgeries as part of his recovery.
In the wake of the attack, an online fundraising page was set up to support the child’s medical expenses. As of Monday, the page has raised over A$150,000 ($100,000, £76,000).
Queensland Police have urged anyone with information about the suspect’s whereabouts to come forward.
They continue to work closely with international partners in the hope of bringing the man to justice.
