A 33-year-old Chinese man has been identified as the suspect who poured hot coffee on a 9-month-old baby and fled the scene in Australia. The incident caused severe burns to the child, whom he had never seen before.
News outlets, including News.com.au and the New York Post, reported Thursday that Chinese media had revealed the suspect’s identity. The man, who had no known connection to the child, is accused of dousing the baby with scalding coffee before running away.
The incident occurred on August 27 in Hanlon Park, Brisbane, as a family was out for a walk with their infant in a stroller. According to reports, the man approached the family, poured the hot liquid on the baby, and immediately fled.
The shocked parents tried to cool their child with water and remove the burning clothing, but the fabric had already adhered to the baby’s skin. The infant was rushed to the hospital with severe burns covering the face, neck, chest, back, arms, and legs.
Although the baby has since been discharged from the hospital, doctors diagnosed permanent disability.
The suspect from Hangzhou, China, was on a student visa in Australia. After being charged with assault, he reportedly drove to New South Wales and left the country from Sydney Airport on August 31, just days after the attack.
Queensland police have issued an arrest warrant, and efforts to locate the suspect are ongoing. Authorities confirmed that he has no family ties or prior criminal record in Australia, though he had previously worked in Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria.
Acting Deputy Commissioner Andrew Massingham said in a local broadcast interview, “Sometimes these posts can be a distraction to what we’re attempting to achieve, but that search will continue until we locate this person.”
Queensland Police Detective Paul Dalton revealed that 30 detectives were involved in the operation, expressing their disappointment at missing the suspect by just 12 hours. He acknowledged feeling deflated initially but noted that this feeling quickly shifted to determination and resilience to complete the task.
