Western Australia Police have charged a 21-year-old woman with aggravated assault after the baby girl was attacked at a shopping centre in Perth on Tuesday afternoon
Woman arrested for aggravated assault in Australia’s Victoria Park
This is the shocking moment a young woman attacked a baby in a shopping centre while she was being held in her mother’s arms.
Western Australia Police (WAP) were alerted to reports of an attack on a baby inside a shopping centre in Perth, at about 1:25pm local time on Tuesday. The woman is alleged to have approached the mum as she held her baby before attacking the infant and then leaving the shopping centre.
Police said the woman was not known to either the mum or her baby. While the baby did receive injuries to her face, they were not classed as serious.
In an update shared later on Tuesday, WAP said: “Please be advised a 21-year-old female was taken into custody at Mirrabooka Shopping Centre at about 11:10am.” Police added the woman, from Ellenbrook, was charged with one count of aggravated assault occasioning bodily harm.
The woman was arrested after police said they were searching for Pamila-Raye Jetta in connection with the incident. No further details about the arrest were shared by WAP.
The woman will appear at Perth Magistrates Court on Thursday. Premier Roger Cook said he was “appalled” by footage of the assault.
“It’s a shocking, shocking situation where a mother with her very vulnerable child, minding their own business, is subject to assault. It must be incredibly traumatic for the mother and, of course, potentially very serious injuries for the baby involved,” he said, according to The West Australian.
“I’m so pleased that the police have now taken someone into custody and that this situation can be resolved as soon as possible. But I think we’re all appalled and shocked by the footage … and I just hope the mother and the baby are well and wish them all the very best.”
The Mirror has contacted WAP for comment.
It comes after a man threw scalding coffee at a nine-month-old baby in Brisbane, Australia. Little Luka was with his mum and friends when the man approached the group, poured a thermos over him and fled on August 27.
Luka suffered life-threatening burns to his face, upper body and arms, and underwent operations at Queensland Children’s Hospital. A Chinese national is suspected of being behind the incident and an international manhunt has been launched to find him.
