An international manhunt is underway for a suspect who doused a baby with scalding hot coffee in a park in Australia late last month.
Queensland Police say the coward attacked the child at Hanlon Park in Stones Corner at around midday on August 27.
At that point, a man walked up to a family he had no relationship with and poured a hot liquid on the child before fleeing the scene.
Emergency services were called and the child was rushed to hospital with “severe burns”, Queensland Police said in a news release.
The child was later released from the hospital.
Detectives from the Morningside Child Protection Investigation Unit identified the suspect as a 33-year-old “foreign national.”
Queensland Police said the suspect has since fled Australia.
A warrant has been issued for his arrest for “intent to cause grievous bodily harm,” Queensland Police Commissioner Paul Dalton said.
Dalton described the attack on the child as the “most cowardly” he has seen in his decades-long career.
“I have seen many disgusting acts. But this is one. When you look at the situation, I can’t imagine anyone being in a more vulnerable situation and being more vulnerable – a young mother and a baby sitting on the floor,” Dalton said.
The department is working with national and international partner agencies to investigate this.
A family friend has since set up a GoFundMe page to help the child with his recovery.
The page stated that the child “has a long recovery ahead of him, which will involve even more doctors and specialists [and] hospital appointments.”
