A former detective has revealed that the coward who allegedly threw scalding coffee on a nine-month-old baby may have fled the country because authorities might not know his name.
Queensland Police have been working with partner agencies around the world amid fears the man responsible for the sickening attack has fled to another state or even left Australia altogether.
Little Luka Burgic was on a picnic with his mother, Erna, at Hanlon Park in Brisbane’s south-east when the man approached them at around midday on August 27 and poured a thermos of boiling coffee over the baby before fleeing.
The baby suffered life-threatening burns to his face, upper body and arms and underwent four operations at Queensland Children’s Hospital as a result of the unprovoked attack.
There are serious concerns that the unknown assailant is attempting to evade justice by hiding abroad.
Former Queensland Police Superintendent Jim Keogh was asked on Sunrise how the alleged offender could have fled the country when his face was everywhere in the hours after the heinous crime.
‘When it comes to getting on a plane, if you’re going to an airport or a passport alert, you have to have a name. You can’t just do it with a picture.
They will surely be able to pass through and leave the country.
Queensland Police have been working with partner agencies around the world amid fears the man responsible for the sickening attack has fled to another state or even left Australia altogether (pictured: the suspect)
Former Queensland Police Superintendent Jim Keogh (pictured) was asked on Sunrise how the alleged offender could have fled the country when his face was everywhere in the hours after the heinous crime.
However, Mr Keogh said he was surprised that no one had identified the attacker from the footage.
“I think the police will have a pretty good idea of who the offender may be and certainly if he is going overseas there must be information or intelligence to indicate that the offender has fled Australia,” he added.
Queensland Police are expected to provide an update on Monday morning.
Mr Keogh warned that if the alleged attacker had fled abroad, it would “not be so easy” to locate him because the images would not be circulated.
“While Interpol and law enforcement there will be pursuing the offender covertly and stealthily, they will not have the support we have here in the community in Australia,” Keogh added.
Former investigator Charlie Bezzina He previously told Daily Mail Australia that the man’s act was so heinous that it was only a matter of time before he was arrested.
“If he fled to another state, he won’t last long,” said the decorated detective, who led multiple manhunts throughout his career.
Luka Burgic’s mother, Erna, says she has been suffering from flashbacks of the ordeal.
‘Interstate relations between police agencies are very strong. Within Australia, there will be no problem (finding him).’
‘If you have travelled abroad, there is sometimes a concern that in some third world countries there is no particular ‘care factor’ regarding crimes committed outside their borders.
‘But in this case, given the enormity of the heinous act this man is alleged to have perpetrated against a baby, that will strike a chord with any government – and any law enforcement agency – in the world.
“And nobody wants the bad publicity that would come from having this suspect, who is alleged to have committed this heinous crime, in their country and not cooperating with him.”
Mr Bezzina urged anyone with information to come forward immediately.
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 have traced his movements after the attack to the Brisbane suburb of Tarragindi, where he changed clothes outside a church.
He then took a rideshare into central Brisbane, before moving to Caxton Street, where the trail went cold.