A 24-year-old Indian national, Atharva Vyas, has been arrested in the United States after allegedly carrying out a violent attack on a toddler and her mother at a Texas park.
The incident occurred on April 18 at Espada Park in San Antonio, where a family had gone for an afternoon outing.
The child, 3-year-old Amelia Perez, suffered severe facial injuries, including bite wounds and the loss of two teeth, after being attacked.
Her mother, Gabriella Perez, said the assault unfolded suddenly when a man approached them in a 'frenzied state' and first attacked her before targeting the child.
The suspect allegedly pinned the child and bit her face during the assault while appearing to be under the influence of a potent cannabis concentrate known as 'wax.'
Bystanders intervened, pulling the man off the child before restraining him until police arrived.
Emergency services later transported the injured child and her family to hospital, where she was treated for her injuries.
Vyas had entered the US in August 2023 on a student visa and was arrested months later in a separate assault case while studying in Texas.
However, immigration authorities at the time did not revoke his visa, as the offence was not considered severe enough under then-existing criteria.
DHS officials have criticised the earlier handling of the suspect's case, calling the incident avoidable.
