A would-be robber threatened to shoot a man who was at a bus stop with two young children in a buggy.
The man then kicked the pushchair, which had an eight-week-old baby and two-year-old boy in it.
Police are now appealing for information about the attempted robbery, which happened in Duckworth Lane, Bradford.
The victim, in his mid 20s, was at the bus stop with the children when he was approached by another man who asked him for money.
When he was refused cash, the suspect became aggressive and made threats to shoot the man, although no weapon was seen.
He then kicked the buggy before walking off along the road to the next bus stop, where he was last seen.
The children were unhurt.
The suspect is described as a white man in his late 20s, approximately 5ft 9in tall and of medium build. He was wearing a blue zip-up jacket and a chunky silver chain around his neck. It is believed he may have links to the Buttershaw area, as he claimed to know the complainant from there, even though he was not.
Police would be particularly keen to speak to a woman of Afro Caribbean appearance, who witnessed the attack and sought help from a nearby store.
The woman was slim, about 5ft 7in tall and had black straight shoulder length hair. She was with a disabled man in a wheelchair.
DS Colman Coyne of Bradford South CID said: ‘‘Although no one was physically hurt in this incident, the attacker could have caused serious injuries or worse to the baby by viciously kicking out at the buggy.’’
Anyone with information on the incident, which happened on Friday, May 17, between 10.30am and 11am, is asked to call police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.