A Chinese national suspected of pouring hot coffee on a baby at a park before fleeing the country was allegedly angry at his visa being rejected and had ‘brain issues’, according to a colleague.
Nine-month-old Luka was at a picnic with his mother in Hanlon Park, in inner south east Brisbane, when the 33-year-old man approached them at about midday on August 27, before pouring the Thermos of scalding coffee over the toddler and fleeing.
The baby suffered life-threatening burns to his face, upper body and arms and has undergone four operations in Queensland Children’s Hospital.
Now, as local authorities work to track down the man – who flew out of the country 10 days later – new details have emerged about his time in Australia.
According to Chinese media reports, the man entered and exited Australia many times since 2019 – initially using a working holiday visa before later switching to a student visa.
Throughout that time, he lived in various places on Australia’s east coast and worked in a meat processing plant.
But when his latest visa application was rejected, Chinese media has reported the man’s frustration allegedly erupted in the coffee attack.
‘Finally, he vented his anger and [allegedly] hurt a baby before leaving Australia,’ reported China’s New Tang Dynasty Television.
Police released this image of a man they wish to speak to in relation to the incident last month
The baby’s mother (pictured with her son) is suffering panic attacks in the wake of the attack
The man reportedly has ‘a brain problem’ according to a coworker who posted on a Chinese social media platform.
‘On the mainland social media “Little Red Book”, a Chinese person in Australia who claimed to know him, broke the news that this man has always been weird and difficult to deal with,’ added NTD Television.
‘He has been working in a meat factory with a study permit for a long time. Later, the meat factory did not require a study permit.’
The TV station alleged the man ‘probably [attacked Luka] to take revenge on the white people, before running away’.
Police have obtained a warrant for the man’s arrest for acts intending to cause grievous bodily harm, which carries a life sentence as a maximum penalty.
The man drove to NSW a day after the alleged attack before flying out of the country from Sydney on August 31.
The revelations come after Acting Assistant 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 man had no family or criminal record in Australia and had worked in Queensland, NSW and Victoria.
He was reportedly born in Hangzhou, China, according to Chinese media.
‘Our international search continues for the person that committed that horrendous crime…we are very much 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 cops finally managed to identify him.
‘I was in the investigation centre when we put a name to the face and it was a very happy room, only for us to do a check in 15 minutes and find out we’ve lost him,’ he said.
‘We’ve got 30 detectives working for me. They’re devastated that they missed this person by 12 hours.
‘I was deflated, but that deflation quickly turns into determination and resilience to get the job done.’
Baby Luka is expected to have lifelong injuries after the horrific act
Luka’s parents said their son was in good spirits but may take years to recover
The baby boy’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.
‘Returning home I had panic attacks, and still continue to do so.
‘I do feel relief that he’s not in this country, in some sense, but I will always have fear and anxiety being out in public with my son – it’s affected my mental health for the rest of my life.
‘I just want to know why, why he did this. These are questions that may always be unanswered.’
Det Insp Dalton said he was still scratching his head over a possible motive.
‘There’s not many investigations where you don’t get a clear motive. It’s strange,’ he said.
Asked what his message to the man would be, Det Insp Dalton said: ‘We will keep going until we find you – I have not lost that determination’.
A GoFundMe page for the child has so far raised more than $195,000.
The parents said their son was in good spirits but may take years to recover.
It emerged earlier on Thursday that Luka was bandage-free for the first time since the attack.
The mother of a baby boy who was doused in scalding hot coffee by a stranger and left with life-threatening injuries has opened up on a major milestone in his recovery
Just weeks from his first birthday, and for the first time since the horrific attack less than two months ago, little Luka is bandage free
Once completely covered from his head to his torso, the brave tot was all smiles for the camera as his proud mum took to Instagram to give an update on his progress.
‘The strength, bravery and courage you have shown over the past month has been nothing short of amazing,’ she gushed.
Multiple photos showed the baby boy walking happily at their home with his injuries appearing to have drastically healed.
