One year on, the hunt for the man accused of scalding baby narrows to Asia
The baby suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries from the seemingly random attack, police said.
The man, whose image was widely distributed at the time, was later discovered to have fled to China in the week following the alleged assault.
Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Queensland Police said attempts to "bring the alleged offender to justice" will continue.
"Since the alleged offender left Australia on 31 August 2024, the AFP has been working tirelessly with our international partners to bring the alleged offender to justice," Queensland Police said.
"Through these efforts, the location of the alleged offender is known to be in China," the state police said.
"The AFP is working jointly with Chinese authorities on appropriate options to take this matter forward.
"The AFP values the ongoing cooperation from Chinese authorities and their shared commitment to pursue all avenues for justice in light of the alleged offender's location."
China has extraterritorial jurisdiction to prosecute its citizens for criminal conduct outside of the country, police confirmed.
More than $230,000 has been raised by the community to support baby Luka and his family in the recovery.
In November 2024, the family thanked the community for its support, saying "everything is travelling well with the scarring on his chin and shoulder".
Investigators will "continue to work in close partnership to explore options for progressing this matter and are pursuing all available avenues", Queensland Police said.
Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.
The 9-month-old baby, Luka, was with his mother and her friend at Hanlon Park in Stones Corner, Brisbane, on August 27, 2024, when the man approached with a Thermos of hot coffee.
The baby suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries from the seemingly random attack, police said.
The man, whose image was widely distributed at the time, was later discovered to have fled to China in the week following the alleged assault.
Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Queensland Police said attempts to "bring the alleged offender to justice" will continue.
"Since the alleged offender left Australia on 31 August 2024, the AFP has been working tirelessly with our international partners to bring the alleged offender to justice," Queensland Police said.
"Through these efforts, the location of the alleged offender is known to be in China," the state police said.
"The AFP is working jointly with Chinese authorities on appropriate options to take this matter forward.
"The AFP values the ongoing cooperation from Chinese authorities and their shared commitment to pursue all avenues for justice in light of the alleged offender's location."
China has extraterritorial jurisdiction to prosecute its citizens for criminal conduct outside of the country, police confirmed.
More than $230,000 has been raised by the community to support baby Luka and his family in the recovery.
In November 2024, the family thanked the community for its support, saying "everything is travelling well with the scarring on his chin and shoulder".
Investigators will "continue to work in close partnership to explore options for progressing this matter and are pursuing all available avenues", Queensland Police said.
Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.
The 9-month-old baby, Luka, was with his mother and her friend at Hanlon Park in Stones Corner, Brisbane, on August 27, 2024, when the man approached with a Thermos of hot coffee.
The baby suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries from the seemingly random attack, police said.
The man, whose image was widely distributed at the time, was later discovered to have fled to China in the week following the alleged assault.
Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Queensland Police said attempts to "bring the alleged offender to justice" will continue.
"Since the alleged offender left Australia on 31 August 2024, the AFP has been working tirelessly with our international partners to bring the alleged offender to justice," Queensland Police said.
"Through these efforts, the location of the alleged offender is known to be in China," the state police said.
"The AFP is working jointly with Chinese authorities on appropriate options to take this matter forward.
"The AFP values the ongoing cooperation from Chinese authorities and their shared commitment to pursue all avenues for justice in light of the alleged offender's location."
China has extraterritorial jurisdiction to prosecute its citizens for criminal conduct outside of the country, police confirmed.
More than $230,000 has been raised by the community to support baby Luka and his family in the recovery.
In November 2024, the family thanked the community for its support, saying "everything is travelling well with the scarring on his chin and shoulder".
Investigators will "continue to work in close partnership to explore options for progressing this matter and are pursuing all available avenues", Queensland Police said.
Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.
The 9-month-old baby, Luka, was with his mother and her friend at Hanlon Park in Stones Corner, Brisbane, on August 27, 2024, when the man approached with a Thermos of hot coffee.
The baby suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries from the seemingly random attack, police said.
The man, whose image was widely distributed at the time, was later discovered to have fled to China in the week following the alleged assault.
Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Queensland Police said attempts to "bring the alleged offender to justice" will continue.
"Since the alleged offender left Australia on 31 August 2024, the AFP has been working tirelessly with our international partners to bring the alleged offender to justice," Queensland Police said.
"Through these efforts, the location of the alleged offender is known to be in China," the state police said.
"The AFP is working jointly with Chinese authorities on appropriate options to take this matter forward.
"The AFP values the ongoing cooperation from Chinese authorities and their shared commitment to pursue all avenues for justice in light of the alleged offender's location."
China has extraterritorial jurisdiction to prosecute its citizens for criminal conduct outside of the country, police confirmed.
More than $230,000 has been raised by the community to support baby Luka and his family in the recovery.
In November 2024, the family thanked the community for its support, saying "everything is travelling well with the scarring on his chin and shoulder".
Investigators will "continue to work in close partnership to explore options for progressing this matter and are pursuing all available avenues", Queensland Police said.
Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.
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The theft charge relates to a stolen blue Volkswagen Golf sedan allegedly used in other offences as a "communal crime car". A 20-year-old man from Melton South has also been charged over his alleged role in stealing the same car linked to separate high-profile incidents, including the synagogue firebombing. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese previously declared he believed the arson attack was an act of terrorism, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced it as an "abhorrent act of anti-Semitism". Police are continuing to treat it as a politically motivated attack. Counter-terrorism police suspect overseas and local criminals worked together on the synagogue arson, and remain confident of further arrests and charges. The investigation has been one of the "highest priorities" of the joint counter terrorism team, acting Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner Nick Read said. "I want to reassure the community - especially the Jewish community - that the AFP, together with Victoria Police and ASIO, are working relentlessly to bring this investigation to its conclusion," he said. "We warned that further arrests would follow and today we have taken yet another step towards justice." The Executive Council of Australian Jewry praised the "painstaking work" of police in tracking down some of the alleged perpetrators and gathering evidence for their prosecution. "Our community awaits further information about whether foreign actors were also involved," the group's president Daniel Aghion said. Counter-terrorism police have charged a second man over an arson attack that gutted a synagogue and sparked international outrage. Two buildings belonging to the Adass Israel Synagogue at Ripponlea in Melbourne's southeast were destroyed in the blaze on December 6. Two congregants inside preparing for morning prayers were forced to flee for their lives, with one suffering minor injuries. A 20-year-old man was charged with arson, conduct endangering life and theft of a vehicle on Thursday after police raided a home at Meadow Heights in Melbourne's north on August 14. Electronic devices and other items are undergoing forensic examination after being seized. The Meadow Heights man has been remanded in custody ahead of facing Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday. Police will allege he is one of three people who broke into the Ripponlea synagogue and deliberately set the fire. His co-accused, 21-year-old Werribee man Giovanni Laulu, has been hit with the same charges after his arrest in late July. The theft charge relates to a stolen blue Volkswagen Golf sedan allegedly used in other offences as a "communal crime car". A 20-year-old man from Melton South has also been charged over his alleged role in stealing the same car linked to separate high-profile incidents, including the synagogue firebombing. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese previously declared he believed the arson attack was an act of terrorism, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced it as an "abhorrent act of anti-Semitism". Police are continuing to treat it as a politically motivated attack. Counter-terrorism police suspect overseas and local criminals worked together on the synagogue arson, and remain confident of further arrests and charges. The investigation has been one of the "highest priorities" of the joint counter terrorism team, acting Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner Nick Read said. "I want to reassure the community - especially the Jewish community - that the AFP, together with Victoria Police and ASIO, are working relentlessly to bring this investigation to its conclusion," he said. "We warned that further arrests would follow and today we have taken yet another step towards justice." The Executive Council of Australian Jewry praised the "painstaking work" of police in tracking down some of the alleged perpetrators and gathering evidence for their prosecution. "Our community awaits further information about whether foreign actors were also involved," the group's president Daniel Aghion said. Counter-terrorism police have charged a second man over an arson attack that gutted a synagogue and sparked international outrage. Two buildings belonging to the Adass Israel Synagogue at Ripponlea in Melbourne's southeast were destroyed in the blaze on December 6. Two congregants inside preparing for morning prayers were forced to flee for their lives, with one suffering minor injuries. A 20-year-old man was charged with arson, conduct endangering life and theft of a vehicle on Thursday after police raided a home at Meadow Heights in Melbourne's north on August 14. Electronic devices and other items are undergoing forensic examination after being seized. The Meadow Heights man has been remanded in custody ahead of facing Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday. Police will allege he is one of three people who broke into the Ripponlea synagogue and deliberately set the fire. His co-accused, 21-year-old Werribee man Giovanni Laulu, has been hit with the same charges after his arrest in late July. The theft charge relates to a stolen blue Volkswagen Golf sedan allegedly used in other offences as a "communal crime car". A 20-year-old man from Melton South has also been charged over his alleged role in stealing the same car linked to separate high-profile incidents, including the synagogue firebombing. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese previously declared he believed the arson attack was an act of terrorism, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced it as an "abhorrent act of anti-Semitism". Police are continuing to treat it as a politically motivated attack. Counter-terrorism police suspect overseas and local criminals worked together on the synagogue arson, and remain confident of further arrests and charges. The investigation has been one of the "highest priorities" of the joint counter terrorism team, acting Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner Nick Read said. "I want to reassure the community - especially the Jewish community - that the AFP, together with Victoria Police and ASIO, are working relentlessly to bring this investigation to its conclusion," he said. "We warned that further arrests would follow and today we have taken yet another step towards justice." The Executive Council of Australian Jewry praised the "painstaking work" of police in tracking down some of the alleged perpetrators and gathering evidence for their prosecution. "Our community awaits further information about whether foreign actors were also involved," the group's president Daniel Aghion said.
