Woman in custody after alleged attacking a baby at Perth shopping centre

Police have issued an update after appealing for assistance after a baby was allegedly assaulted in a busy shopping centre.

A woman has been taken into custoy after an alleged unprovoked attack on a baby who was being held by her mother at a Perth shopping centre.

Western Australian Police were alerted to the random incident inside the shopping centre in East Victoria Park about 1.25pm on Tuesday.

It will be alleged a woman approached the mother who was holding her child, before assaulting the child and leaving the area.

The moment a woman allegeldy attacked a baby in a woman's arms. Picture: Supplied/WA Police

Police confirmed the woman was not known to either the mother of her child.

The young child received facial injuries but was not seriously injured in the incident.

Police stepped up their investigation with an urgent public appeal on Wednesday, before announcing a 21-year-old woman had been taken into custody at Mirrabooka Shopping Centre at 11.10am Perth time.

No further details were immediately available.

The incident follows another shocking attack on an innocent baby earlier this year.

In August, nine-month-old baby Luka was injured by a stranger while having a picnic with his mother at a Brisbane park.

Little baby Luka and the man police wish to speak to in relation to the Brisbane incident.

Police allege a man approached the baby boy and poured a Thermos of hot coffee on him, burning his face and chest.

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

The boy was left with serious burns on up to 60 per cent of his body and has undergone four surgeries, with the potential he may also need a skin graft.

Originally published as Woman in custody after alleged attacking a baby at Perth shopping centre