Australian Senator Fraser Anning who was strongly criticiced for blaming the New Zealand mosque shootings on Muslim immigration was egged on Saturday at an event in Melbourne, news.com.au reported.
The incident came on the back of the Queensland senator supposed condemnation of the Christchurch mosque attacks in which 50 people were killed.
In a video that has been making rounds on social media, a young boy can be seen smashing an egg over the senator’s head as he speaks at a press conference. The teenager was filming on his phone as he smashed the egg on top of Anning’s head.
WATCH: This is the moment Senator Fraser Anning was egged by a teenage boy during a press conference in Melbourne. #9News pic.twitter.com/oePwz3pPH2
— Nine News Melbourne (@9NewsMelb) March 16, 2019
A visibly shocked Anning can next be seen slapping the young boy;s face in response before a fight breaks out.
The Victoria Police in its statement said they had arrested 17-year-old in connection to the incident.
“Police arrested a 17-year-old male from Hampton after he allegedly threw an egg at a 69-year-old Brisbane man at an address in Moorabbin this afternoon during a planned meeting,” the statement said.
He was late released by the police without any charge.
“I am utterly opposed to any form of violence within our community, and I totally condemn the actions of the gunman,” Anning said in his statement that was released after the mosque attacks. “However, whilst this kind of violent vigilantism can never be justified, what it highlights is the growing fear within our community, both in Australia and New Zealand of the increasing Muslim presence.”
UPDATE: A teenage boy has egged controversial Senator Fraser Anning, midway through a press conference at his Melbourne appearance... the Senator responded by hitting him in the head.. and the boy was then tackled to the ground and held before police arrived. @7NewsMelbourne
— Kristy Mayr (@KristyMayr7) March 16, 2019
The senator further said that “left-wing politicians and media” would blame gun laws and nationalist views, but “the real cause of bloodshed on New Zealand streets today is the immigration program which allowed Muslim fanatics to migrate to New Zealand in the first place.”
He also posted a statement on Twitter in which he tried to draw a link between Muslim immigration and violence.
This is an official press release from Fraser Anning, an Australian Senator about the #NZMosqueShooting.
— Frederick Joseph (@FredTJoseph) March 15, 2019
It is absolutely one of the most anti-Muslim and bigoted things I’ve read from a politician, and to come after a terrorist attack — unbelievable. pic.twitter.com/H1xgV22A4m
Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the government will censure the senator, “The remarks by Senator Fraser Anning blaming the murderous attacks by a violent, rightwing, extremist terrorist in New Zealand on immigration are disgusting. Those views have no place in Australia, let alone the Australian parliament.”
There is also a petition circluating online calling for the Queensland senator's resignation.
