Toronto police are searching for a female suspect after a three-year-old boy was sprayed with an “unknown burning substance” at a west-end theatre Halloween afternoon.

According to police, the boy and his father were in line to purchase tickets to Hotel Transylvania 2 at Humber Cinemas Theatre on 2442 Bloor St. W. around 3:15 p.m. on Oct. 31 when a woman approached the boy and sprayed an “unknown burning substance” on his neck and ears. She then immediately left the theatre.

The substance immediately caused bumps to appear on the boy’s skin. It also burned two small holes into the carpet, a hole into the left sleeve of the boy’s jacket, a hole into the right sleeve of his shirt, and faded the ink of the shirt around the boy’s neck.

The boy was taken to hospital with minor burns.

The woman, last seen walking eastbound on Bloor St. W., is described as black and middle-aged, and was last seen wearing a purple dress, black shoes, a black coat with writing on the back, and a brown scarf and hat. She was holding a reusable FRESHCO shopping bag.

The attack appears to be random and police are running analysis to identify the substance.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at (416) 808-1100 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at (416) 222-TIPS (8477).