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Breaking news:Warrant Issued for Man Who Allegedly Threw Piping Hot Coffee on Baby in Unprovoked Attack
Police are searching for a man who allegedly threw scalding coffee on a baby in Queensland, Australia.
On Monday, Sept. 9, Queensland Police confirmed in a statement that an arrest warrant had been issued after the attack on Aug. 27.
“Police have issued an arrest warrant for a man that may be able to assist with investigations into the assault of an infant in Stones Corner last month,” the press release read.
The victim, who was a 9-month-old boy, was with his family at Hanlon Park around midday at the time.
“A man not known to the group approached them and poured a hot liquid onto the child, before leaving the scene,” authorities said. “Emergency crews were called, and the young boy was taken to hospital with serious burns.”
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Police say the boy has since been released from hospital, with Morningside Child Protection Investigation Unit detectives identifying the alleged suspect as a 33-year-old foreign national.
“The man has since left the county and Queensland Police are working with national and international partner agencies to progress this investigation further,” authorities said, per the release. “There is no further information available. Investigations are continuing.”
After the incident, police appealed for more information. They also released CCTV footage of the alleged perpetrator running from where the attack took place.
Wearing a black hat, blue shirt, shorts and glasses, the man in the video was captured running across roads and multiple pathways.
According to CNN, Queensland Police are working with international partners to find the man’s whereabouts. It’s been said he fled Australia four days after the unprovoked attack.
The outlet also reports the baby suffered burns on his legs, arms and face.
“It soon became apparent to us that this person was aware of police methodologies, was certainly conducting counter surveillance activities, which made the investigation quite complex,” Queensland Police Detective Inspector Paul Dalton told reporters, per CNN.
It’s reported that after taking a taxi to Brisbane’s city center and driving to New South Wales, the suspect took a flight from Sydney Airport on Aug. 31.
While police are unaware of the man’s motives, they have reportedly been able to identify his name, which they have chosen not to disclose.