A criminal psychologist has warned that a man who threw scalding coffee on a baby could strike again as he remains at large more than a week after the attack.
Nine-month-old Luka was on a picnic with his mother in Hanlon Park, Brisbane, when the man approached them around midday on August 27.
The baby suffered life-threatening burns to his face, upper body and arms and underwent his third operation at Queensland Children’s Hospital this week.
Police are still searching for the person responsible and last week released new images of a man they wish to speak to as investigations continue.
Dr Tim Watson-Munro told Daily Mail Australia it was possible the attacker could have harmed another baby.
“Two things can happen: it could have been an isolated incident and we hope he got caught, or for some perverse reason he found it exciting and daring and that encourages him to do it again,” he said.
‘This case has had a huge impact. The media has covered it with great attention and sometimes these people get emboldened and encouraged by the press, they get excited in some way and that can lead them to commit further crimes.’
The criminal psychologist said he was surprised that no one had come forward with information about the “cruel and insensitive criminal.”
Police have released this image of a man they wish to speak to in connection with last week’s incident.
“I think it’s hiding somewhere,” Dr Watson-Munro said.
He may be protected by people who know him or by members of his family, but I don’t think the lack of detection to date means the police are not doing their job.
‘But the fact that this photo has been published, that it’s out there in cyberspace, I’m a little surprised that no one has come forward and that it hasn’t been detected yet.
“I would have thought someone would have stepped forward and said ‘I recognise this person’, but as far as I know, unless the police keep their cards very secret, that hasn’t happened.
“I’m sure they’re doing everything they can to find this person, reassure the community and bring him to justice.”
The baby’s mother revealed she is suffering from panic attacks while the unidentified man responsible for the attack remains at large.
Meanwhile, more than $100,000 has been raised for the family. GoFundMe which will be used to support the baby and his/her family.
“I had a panic attack last night, thinking he was going to hurt someone else because he was out there. If he could do this to an innocent baby, he can do much worse things. I don’t want anyone to suffer any more harm,” she told reporters earlier this week.
The baby’s mother (pictured with her son) suffers from panic attacks instead of the seizure.
The little boy had walked unaided for the first time moments before being attacked by the stranger.
He underwent his third surgery on Tuesday, but is on the road to recovery.
“He’s been incredibly resilient. He’s up and walking around and causing chaos,” his mother said.
“He is a very strong boy and we are very proud of him. This horrible incident should never have happened. Hopefully, justice will be done one day.”
The young mother urged people to “please come forward” if they recognised the man.
