Police say the man sought over a “horrific” attack on a Brisbane baby is a foreign national who has fled the country.

Baby Luka had his third round of surgery last week after he suffered burns to much of his body when a man poured a flask of coffee over the nine-month-old who was picnicking with his family at Hanlon Park in Stones Corner on August 27.

Luka suffered significant burns to his face, arms and legs.

In the days after the attack, Queensland Police released CCTV and enhanced images of the man believed to be responsible. They are yet to make any arrests.

On Monday, police said the suspect was a 33-year-old who was in NSW a day after the attack, and flew out of Sydney on August 31.

Detective Inspector Paul Dalton said he left Australia on his own passport, a day before police confirmed his identity.

“We’ve got 30 detectives working for me. They’re devastated that they missed this person by 12 hours,” he said.

“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 the man was “aware of police methodologies” and had been
“conducting counter-surveillance activities”. This “made the investigation quite complex”, Dalton said.

“This is probably one of the most complex, and sometimes frustrating, investigations I’ve had to be involved in and lead,” he said.

Police have a warrant for grievous bodily harm, which carries a possible life sentence.

Dalton said the first name given to police was incorrect.

“It wasn’t until the 1st of September that we were able to put a name to the face in the CCTV. Even at that stage, we probably didn’t have enough evidence to obtain a warrant,” he said.

“We’ve since been to NSW and Victoria to gather that information, and the warrant has been granted.”

Baby Luka was burned on his arms, legs and chest in the park attack.

Dalton said the wanted man was an itinerant worker who had been in and out of Australia since 2019, without any apparent criminal activity.

“There’s no adverse holdings that we can find on him in Australia,” he said.

The man had a visa and addresses “across the eastern seaboard”,  including Victoria and Sydney’s outer suburbs. However, he was not previously known to live in Queensland.

Dalton said releasing the man’s name or the country he had fled to could put the investigation at risk.

“[Queensland Police] are fully committed to doing everything we possibly can lawfully, to get this person back here to face justice,” he said.

Dalton said police were yet to uncover a motive for the attack.

“A rational, normal person you think wouldn’t do that, but that’s not always the case. I’ve seen a lot of disgusting acts,” he said.

“I can’t think of someone being in a more vulnerable position than a baby and a mother sitting on the ground.”

Earlier, baby Luka’s family said the little boy had been incredibly resilient despite the “traumatic and difficult” time.

“He’s up and about, walking and causing chaos,” his mother said.

“He is such a strong little boy and we are so so proud of him.”

But the family is still seeking justice as the police investigation enters its third week.

“This horrific event should have never happened,” Luka’s mother said.

“Hopefully one day justice will be served.”

The man was wearing glasses, a blue shirt, cargo shorts and a black hat. He is believed to be aged about 30 to 40.

A GoFundMe page for baby Luka has so far raised more than $150,000.

-with AAP