‘Needs to happen’: Mother of baby Luka’s wish after suspected offender ID’d in Chinese media

The parents of the baby who had hot coffee poured on him in a “heinous” attack have revealed an update after the suspect behind the attack was identified.

The parents of a baby who had hot coffee poured on him have revealed the child is finally out of his bandages and “doing well” more than a month after the “heinous attack”.

Nine-month-old Luka was injured on August 27 while having a picnic with his mother at a Brisbane park.

Police allege a man came up to the toddler and poured a Thermos of hot coffee on him, burning his face and chest.

The 33-year-old man has been identified by Chinese media after he allegedly fled the country on his own passport a day before he was identified by Queensland police.

He travelled by car to NSW on August 28 before flying out of Sydney airport on August 31, police said.

A warrant has been issued for his arrest.

Luka’s face and chest were burned in the attack. Picture: Supplied.

He was only nine months old at the time of the attack.

Speaking to The Project on Friday evening, Luka’s parents shared he was in the “scar management phase” of healing after undergoing multiple surgeries.

“Seeing our son heal and progress has been really heartwarming and it’s making the process a little bit easier,” Luka’s mum told the panel.

“But the investigation side of things is making it really difficult to move forward. We’re constantly being re-triggered and re-hashing what’s happened, which is hard.”

“There’s not much (police) can share, which is extremely frustrating,” her partner added.

“I understand they have their processes and procedures that they have to follow but, yeah, as parents, we want to know everything,” Luka’s mum said.

“We would like to get justice for our son.”

In a post shared on social media, she reiterated the family’s desire to see Luka’s attacker arrested,

“We just want him held accountable for what he’s done, now,” she wrote.

“I just hope one day we wake up to the news that this person is in jail.

“It’s extremely draining and retriggering, but it’s something that needs to happen to be able to fully move forward.”

Baby Luka's mother expressed her hope the suspected offender will be jailed. Picture: Instagram.

A man who police believe can help with their inquiries.

She earlier claimed she would’ve liked to have the information about the suspected offender being named “weeks ago”, according to 9 NEWS.

“Where is he? Is he in jail now that the media knows who he is over there? Is he just walking the streets?” Luka’s mother asked.

“We just want him to be punished, here or there, we just want him to be punished,” Luka’s father agreed.

Police have launched an international manhunt and Queensland Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Andrew Massingham told 4BC on Thursday that “the search for the person that committed that horrendous crime continues”.

He said posts naming the alleged offender could sometimes be counterproductive to an investigation.

“Sometimes these posts can be a distraction to what we’re attempting to achieve, but that search will continue until we locate that person,” Mr Massingham told 4BC’s Peter Fegan.

“Those things always need to remain confidential up until the time that we go public with the information.

“We’re very much committed to finding the individual responsible.”

The bandages have all been removed for Baby Luka. Picture: Supplied

Mr Massingham told 4BC the alleged attack was one of the “most heinous” and “cowardly” attacks he’d seen throughout his career.

“It’s right up there – I mean we’re going to allege this individual approached that mother and child from behind, inflicting significant injuries on that child,” he said.

“That child will have those injuries for life, but certainly up there with one of the most heinous but also one of the most cowardly, I think.”

Luka has now been able to ditch the bandages, according to 9 NEWS, but will need further treatment.

Originally published as ‘Needs to happen’: Mother of baby Luka’s wish after suspected offender ID’d in Chinese media