By Australian authorities have launched an international manhunt for a suspect who allegedly poured boiling coffee on a nine-month-old baby in Brisbane last month, leaving the infant with severe burns to his face and limbs.
Queensland Police confirmed on Monday that the main suspect, a 33-year-old man, fled Australia six days after the August 31 incident. The suspect departed from Sydney airport just 12 hours before police were able to confirm his identity.
Detective Inspector Paul Dalton described the case as one of the “most complex and frustrating” he has ever led. An arrest warrant has been issued for the suspect on charges of acts intending to cause grievous bodily harm, which carries a potential life sentence.
The attack occurred during a family picnic at a suburban park in Brisbane. Witnesses reported that a “strange man” approached the family, emptied a flask of hot coffee on the child, and fled on foot. The baby received immediate first aid from an off-duty nurse who took him to her nearby apartment to run cold water over his burns.
The infant has already undergone multiple surgeries and faces a long recovery process, according to his parents. The motive for the attack remains unknown.
Police have not disclosed the suspect’s name or destination country to avoid compromising their investigation. They described him as an “itinerant” worker who had traveled to Australia repeatedly since 2019, with addresses in both New South Wales and Victoria.
Det Insp Dalton revealed that the suspect was aware of “police methodologies” and had been “conducting counter-surveillance activities” to evade capture.
The baby’s parents expressed mixed feelings about the suspect’s flight, telling the Australian Broadcasting Corporation they were “devastated” he had left the country but also relieved he was gone. They acknowledged the uncertainty of how long it might take to achieve justice for their son.
Despite the trauma, the father reported that the boy is in “good spirits” but may require further skin graft surgeries. A fundraising page for the family has raised over A$150,000 ($100,000; £76,000) to date.
This shocking incident has garnered national attention in Australia and highlights the challenges of international law enforcement cooperation in pursuing suspects across borders.
