A woman has been charged after allegedly attacking and injuring a toddler at a shopping centre in Perth.

The 21-year-old allegedly assaulted the child on Tuesday at the Park Centre in East Victoria Park.

The toddler was being held by her mother at the time and suffered facial injuries, Western Australian police said.

Security video showed the woman walking up to the pair inside the shopping centre before reaching across and allegedly assaulting the child as the mother attempted to step away from her.

The woman, who was not known to the mother and child, then fled.

She was charged with aggravated assault occasioning bodily harm and will appear in Perth Magistrates Court on Thursday.

WA Premier Roger Cook said it was a shocking and difficult situation.

“It must have been incredibly traumatic for the mother, and of course potentially very serious injuries for the baby involved,” he said.

“We’re all appalled … I just hope the mother and the baby are well and wish them all the very best.”