A man accused of throwing scalding coffee on a baby in an unprovoked attack in Queensland, Australia, is the focus of an international manhunt. The incident occurred on August 27, when the man allegedly threw hot coffee on nine-month-old Luka while he was sitting with his mother at Brisbane’s Hanlon Park. The baby suffered serious burns to his face, arms, and legs.
Queensland Police Detective Inspector Paul Dalton revealed that the 33-year-old suspect, a foreign national, fled the country four days after the attack. Surveillance footage shows the man running from the scene, wearing a blue plaid shirt and glasses. The investigation was initially delayed due to false information about the man’s identity and his counter-surveillance efforts.
After fleeing Brisbane, the man traveled to New South Wales and then flew out of Sydney Airport on August 31. Police identified him on September 1 but found that he had already left the country. Described as an “itinerant worker,” the man had been in and out of Australia on various visas since 2019.
Authorities are still puzzled by the lack of a clear motive for the attack. The baby’s mother described the chaotic aftermath, with bystanders rushing to help. Luka has since undergone multiple surgeries for severe burns.
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