‘Egged’ senator should face charges, says PM
AUSTRALIA’S prime minister yesterday said an antimuslim senator should be charged after he struck a teenager who had just cracked an egg over his head.
Sen Fraser Anning has been widely condemned for blaming Muslim immigration for a racist attack on two New Zealand mosques that claimed at least 50 lives.
Will Connolly, the 17-yearold boy who egged Anning, has become an online hero for the incident.
Scott Morrison, the Prime Minister, took Connolly’s side, yesterday, telling reporters: “The full force of the law should be applied to Sen Anning.”
Police allege that Connolly, who calls himself “Egg Boy” online, assaulted the senator with the egg.
Mr Anning “retaliated and struck the teen twice” before Connolly was dragged to the ground by Anning supporters, a police statement said.
“The incident is being actively investigated by Victoria Police in its entirety,” the statement said, including Anning’s actions.
Mr Anning came under blistering criticism over tweets on Friday, including one that said: “Does anyone still dispute the link between Muslim immigration and violence?”
A Gofundme page set up to raise AU$2,000 (£1,000) to pay for Connolly’s legal fees and “more eggs” had exceeded AU$25,000 yesterday.
The site said most of the money would go to Christchurch victims.
“Love the spunk of egg boy who puts his egg where we’d like it to be!” donor Val Lehmann-monck posted.
“This kid is awesome. The senator will not get reelected due to the publicity and those comments and his reaction,” Nikhil Reddy wrote.
After the incident, Anning supporters pinned Connolly to the ground until journalists appealed for him to be allowed back on his feet, The Sun-herald newspaper reported.
Far-right activist Neil Erikson, who was involved in tackling Connolly, shouted for reporters to be removed from the area.
“Get the journalists out of here … If you don’t like it, get out,” Erikson was quoted as saying.
Police said they arrested Connolly, took his details and then released him without charge.
Connolly urged his online followers not to follow his example. “Don’t egg politicians. You get tackled by 30 bogans at the same time,” he said in a video, using Australian slang for a poor, unsophisticated white person.