Montreal-area boy severely burned after stranger throws boiling water on him

WARNING: This story contains graphic images of a burn victim.

A woman in her 40s was arrested last week in Longueuil, Que., after allegedly throwing boiling water at a 10-year-old boy when he was walking by her home.

The Service de police de l'agglomration de Longueuil (SPAL) says the boy was scalded on Oct. 2 by a woman who lives in a multi-residential building near the intersection of Cur-Poirier Boulevard East and Chambly Road.

CBC News is not naming the boybecause he is a minor who is the victim of violence.

The boy told Radio-Canada that he was walking home from school with friends in the city on the South Shore of Montreal and that they "took a shortcut" that passes in front of the woman's residence.

His father, Tewa Pierre Senin, said the boy arrived home around 4 p.m., screaming, "Dad, someone threw boiling water on me. I've been burned!"

"It was unbearable," Senin said.

The boy suffered serious burns to his head, face, torso and back.

WATCH | Mother and son speak out after scalding:

Thatll teach you: Boy says woman threw boiling water at him on his way home from school

5 hours ago

Duration 0:57

Marie Ettian and her 10-year-old son describe the moment he came home after being scalded near his school in Longueuil, Que.

"I called the police and since they were taking time to come, we rushed to bring the child to the hospital. And one hour later, police arrived," Senin said.

The boy remains traumatized by the incident and has been fearful since, said his mother Marie Ettian.

After looking for the woman near the site of the alleged attack, the boy's father asked her why she assaulted his son.

"She said the child had a habit of knocking at her door for the past three years, whereas we only came to the neighbourhood in January," Senin said. "My son never did that."

Not only has the family lived in the area for less than a year, but also the boy only started attending the school near the woman's home a month ago, said his father.

The woman was arrested and questioned by investigators.

Police say she faces charges of assault causing bodily harm and assault with a weapon.

She was released the same day on a promise to appear and under conditions, including not contacting the child and his family, said SPAL officer Mlanie Mercille.

But her release has left the family fearful.

"I fear for the other children too because [the woman's home] is close to a school, and that scares me," Ettian said.

The SPALalso asksthe public to contact policeif they are feeling unsafe during neighbourhood disputes.

Based on reporting by Radio-Canada's Karine Bastien and Stphane Bordeleau, translated by Holly Cabrera