A horrific incident that took place in Brisbane, Australia in 2024 has once again come to the forefront. According to the BBC, China said it would send a special “working group” to Australia in order to search for the suspect and speed up the case, involving the alleged act of throwing hot coffee on a nine-month-old baby.
According to reports, the baby was attacked while the family was relaxing in a park. As a result, the child suffered severe burn injuries to the face, arms, and legs. The suspect is said to be a 33-year-old man. Police managed to identify him, but he left the country.
It is currently noted that the suspect is in China. However, Australia does not have an extradition (handover) agreement with China. Therefore, China’s ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, stated on January 29 that a working group would go to Brisbane and assist the investigation.
“We take this matter seriously and are determined to take the necessary measures,” Xiao Qian said. He emphasized that the group would work together with Australian officials to clarify how and why the incident occurred, and to discuss subsequent steps of cooperation.
A joint statement by the Queensland Police and the Australian Federal Police also noted that China has jurisdiction to hold its citizens criminally liable for actions committed outside the country as well.
An arrest warrant has been issued for the wanted person on a charge of attempting to act with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. In Australia, this charge may lead to a sentence of up to life imprisonment.
Police described the suspect as “a worker with no fixed place of residence.” He visited Australia several times between 2019 and 2024, and also traveled to the states of Victoria and New South Wales.
The incident itself and the baby’s severe burn injuries sparked strong outrage across Australia. It is believed that the man poured boiling coffee from a thermos onto the baby while the family was having a picnic. After the attack, the baby required several skin graft operations.
Three months later, the parents provided an update on the baby’s condition: scars remained on the chin and shoulder area, but the other processes were said to be “going well.” It was also reported that more than 230,000 dollars were raised through an online fundraiser opened to cover the baby’s treatment.
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