A man hit a crying baby girl on the back of the head in a shocking assault on a bus.
Police have launched a manhunt after the sickening incident which also saw the 19-month-old baby shouted at by the man.
Bedfordshire Police have released CCTV Images of a man they need to speak to "in relation to the assault of a child", a spokesperson for the force said today.
They said the baby was in a pushchair while her mum was beside her, in what a police officer described as a "truly shocking incident".
The spokesperson said in a statement: "We have issued CCTV images of a man officers would like to speak to in relation to the assault of a child.
"The incident took place on Tuesday, February 4, at around 2.50pm, on the number 29 bus from Luton town centre to St Margaret’s Avenue.
"During the journey, a 19-month-old child, who had been crying while in a pushchair next to her mother, was assaulted by being hit on the back of the head. The child was also shouted at."
The man in the images is wearing a dark red hoody, grey trousers, large black headphones and a rucksack. He is white with short, light brown hair.
PC Carolyn Hoare is investigating the assault.
She said: “This is a truly shocking incident where a baby was assaulted on a bus in broad daylight.
"We will not tolerate this kind of behaviour in our county.
“We are asking the man pictured in the CCTV images, or anyone who recognises him, to come forward as we believe he could help us with our enquiries.
"If anyone witnessed the incident, please get in touch."
- Anyone with any information should call 101 or report the crime online at the Bedfordshire Police website , quoting crime reference 40/7509/20.
- If you want to remain anonymous, you can call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
