Police arrested a 52-year-old local man on Tuesday afternoon.

The attacker assaulted the girl who was seated in a shopping cart while her mother was distracted doing her weekly shop. The attacker bent over the shopping cart and proceeded to injure the child with a screwdriver.

Antwerp police's Fons Bastiaenssens: "The mother responded immediately. The man let the screwdriver drop to the ground, turned and walked out."

The attacker is clearly visible on CCTV footage. His motive remains unclear.

The toddler was taken to a local hospital where she underwent an operation. It remains unclear whether or not the operation was successful.

