'Coffee Terror' on Baby at Brisbane Park, Australia
33-Year-Old Stranger... Motive Unclear
9-Month-Old Baby Suffers 60% Body Burns, Parents in Anguish
A man who poured hot coffee on a 9-month-old baby in Australia and fled is currently believed to have left the country and is on the run. On the 10th (local time), the British BBC reported on the 'random attack' incident that occurred last month on the 27th in a park in Brisbane, Australia. At the time, a man approached a family resting in the park with their 9-month-old baby in a stroller, poured hot coffee on the baby, and ran away.
A man who poured coffee on a 9-month-old baby and fled in a park in Australia. [Image source=Captured from Queensland Police Facebook, Australia]
The shocked mother and her party tried to pour water on the baby and remove the clothes, but the skin peeled off and blisters appeared. Among the group was a nurse who, before the paramedics arrived, placed the baby in a bathtub filled with cold water and checked the baby's condition. The baby was then rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery but suffered burns all over the body. Medical staff said, "The baby sustained burns on 60% of the body, including the face, neck, chest, and arms," adding, "Fortunately, the burns are not life-threatening, but the baby will need multiple skin regeneration surgeries in the future." The mother expressed her anguish in an interview with local media, saying, "I am the guardian, but I couldn't protect my child," and "It is so horrific and painful." According to the BBC, after the baby's tragic story became known, $100,000 AUD (approximately 134.43 million KRW) was raised for burn treatment.
A 9-month-old baby receiving treatment for burns. [Image source: Screenshot from Australia 7 News report]
The Brisbane police, who received the report of this incident, released CCTV footage from the park and issued a public warrant for the suspect. The man had no acquaintance with the baby's family, was of average build with dark tanned skin, and was wearing a blue checkered shirt and shorts, along with a black hat and glasses. At the time, local authorities stated, "In my 35 years as a police officer, this is the first time a young child has been attacked in such a situation," and "We will deploy all resources available to find the suspect."
However, on the sixth day after the incident, it was revealed that the man had left the country through Sydney Airport. This was just 12 hours before the police confirmed his identity. Authorities announced that the man had been internationally wanted and said, "We found out that he fled overseas just 15 minutes after we put a name tag on his face photo."
Investigations revealed that the 33-year-old man had entered and exited Australia multiple times since 2019 on work and travel visas. However, the suspect's name and the country to which he fled have not been disclosed to avoid confusion in the investigation. The motive for the crime has not yet been determined.
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