A Chinese national suspected of serving hot coffee to a baby in a park before fleeing the country was allegedly angry because his visa was rejected and had “brain problems,” according to a colleague.
Nine-month-old Luka was on a picnic with his mother in Hanlon Park, in Brisbane’s inner south-east, when the 33-year-old approached them around midday on August 27, before pouring the thermos of boiling coffee about the child. and fleeing.
The baby suffered life-threatening burns to his face, upper body and arms and underwent four operations at Queensland Children’s Hospital.
Now, as local authorities work to locate the man, who flew out of the country 10 days later, new details have emerged about his stay in Australia.
According to Chinese media reports, the man has entered and left Australia many times since 2019, initially using a working holiday visa before switching to a student visa.
During all this time he lived in various locations on the east coast of Australia and worked in a meat processing plant.
But when his latest visa application was rejected, Chinese media reported that the man’s frustration allegedly boiled over in the cafe attack.
“Eventually, he vented his anger and (allegedly) hurt a baby before leaving Australia,” China’s New Tang Dynasty Television reported.
Police released this image of a man they wish to speak to in relation to last month’s incident.
The baby’s mother (pictured with her son) suffers panic attacks after the attack.
The man reportedly has “a brain problem,” according to a co-worker who posted on a Chinese social media platform.
“On the mainland social media “Little Red Book”, a Chinese in Australia who claimed to know him broke the news that this man has always been strange and difficult to deal with,” NTD Television added.
‘He has been working in a meat factory for a long time on a study permit. Later, the meat factory did not need a study permit.’
The TV station stated that the man “probably (attacked Luka) to take revenge on the whites, before fleeing.”
Police have obtained a warrant for the man’s arrest for acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.
The man drove to New South Wales a day after the alleged attack before flying out of the country from Sydney on August 31.
The revelations come after Acting Deputy Police Commissioner Andrew Massingham told Radio 4BC on Thursday that the suspect’s name had been published in Chinese media.
Police said the 33-year-old had no family or criminal record in Australia and had worked in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.
According to Chinese media, he was born in Hangzhou, China.
“Our international search continues for the person who committed this horrendous crime… we are very committed to finding the individual responsible,” Mr Massingham said.
“That child will have those injuries for life.”
Queensland Police Detective Inspector Paul Dalton said the man had fled the country just 12 hours before police finally managed to identify him.
“I was at the research center when we put a name on the face and it was a very happy room, only for us to do a check within 15 minutes and find out we’d lost it,” he said.
‘We have 30 detectives working for me. They are devastated that they have not seen this person for 12 hours.
“I felt deflated, but that deflation quickly turns into determination and resilience to get the job done.”
Baby Luka is expected to have life-long injuries after horrific act
Luka’s parents said their son was in good spirits but it could take years for him to recover.
The baby’s mother said it was some relief that the alleged attacker was no longer in Australia.
“I had no idea where this person was, I didn’t want to leave this hospital because it became our safe space,” she said.
‘When I returned home I had panic attacks and I still have them.
“I am relieved that he is not in this country, in a sense, but I will always have fear and anxiety being in public with my son – it has affected my mental health for the rest of my life.”
‘I just want to know why, why did he do this. These are questions that may always remain unanswered.’
Inspector Dalton said he was still scratching his head over a possible motive.
‘There are not many investigations in which a clear motive is not found. It’s strange,’ he said.
Asked what his message to the man would be, Inspector Dalton said: “We will keep going until we find him – I haven’t lost that determination.”
TO GoFundMe The page for the boy has so far raised more than $195,000.
The parents said their son was in good spirits but could take years to recover.
On Thursday it emerged that Luka was without bandages for the first time since the attack.
The mother of a baby who was doused with scalding coffee by a stranger and left with life-threatening injuries has spoken out about a major milestone in her recovery.
Just weeks away from his first birthday, and for the first time since the horrific attack less than two months ago, little Luka no longer has bandages.
Once completely covered from head to torso, the brave little boy smiled for the camera as his proud mother took to Instagram to give an update on his progress.
“The strength, bravery and courage that you have shown over the last month has been amazing,” he gushed.
Several photos showed the baby happily walking around his house with his injuries appearing to have healed drastically.