Police are investigating whether a man who threw hot coffee on a baby in a shocking unprovoked attack may have fled to another state or abroad.
Nine-month-old Luka was on a picnic with his mother in Hanlon Park in Brisbane’s south-east when the man approached them at around midday on August 27 and poured the thermos of boiling coffee over the boy before running away.
The baby suffered life-threatening burns to his face, upper body and arms and underwent four operations at Queensland Children’s Hospital.
An image of the man police believe is responsible for the attack has circulated online, but detectives have yet to locate him.
“Detectives are continuing to investigate the matter and are working with interstate and international partner agencies to progress the investigation,” a Queensland Police spokesman said.
‘An update will be provided to the media on Monday.’
The man is described as being between 30 and 40 years old, with a well-proportioned build and tanned skin.
At the time of the attack he was wearing a black hat, glasses, a T-shirt and shorts.
Police are searching for the man in connection with the shocking attack on nine-month-old Luka on August 27 in Brisbane.
Police have traced his movements after the attack to the Brisbane suburb of Tarragindi, where he changed clothes outside a church.
He then took a carpool into central Brisbane, before heading to Caxton Street.
Meanwhile, Luka has returned to the hospital after a brief stay at home.
His mother, Erna Burgic, previously said she fears he may need skin grafts and lasers.
She also told Nine News last week that she was having flashbacks to the nightmare incident.
“It’s torture and I’m supposed to be his protector and I couldn’t protect him,” she said.
‘I’m having flashbacks all the time about what happened.
Luka’s mother (pictured with her son) said she has been suffering from flashbacks to the horrific attack.
“I don’t know who would think of harming a small, innocent baby.”
TO Gofundme It was organised by Zara Mazza, a friend of Ms Burgic who was with her at the time of the attack.
By Saturday evening, the page had raised a whopping $144,744, far exceeding its stated goal of $5,000.
This comes after criminal psychologist Dr Tim Watson-Munro told the 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.”
“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 that 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.”
Baby Luka has undergone four surgeries following the attack last month.
