An Australian politician who blamed the New Zealand shooting on immigration was egged by a teen during a press conference
- A right-wing politician, who blamed the New Zealand mosque attacks on Muslim immigration, was egged by a teen during a press conference in Melbourne on Saturday. Local news organizations witnessed the incident.
- Senator Fraser Anning responded by punching the 17-year-old teen.
- Anning was strongly criticized by Australian politicians on Friday after making controversial comments about the New Zealand attacks on Twitter.
An Australian politician, who blamed the New Zealand mosque attacks on Muslim immigration, was egged by a teen during a press conference in Melbourne on Saturday. Several local news organizations witnessed the incident.
Video footage of the incident, which was posted to senator Fraser Anning's Facebook page, shows the teen cracking an egg over his head. The senator responded by punching the 17-year-old teen, who was then tackled to the ground by Anning's supporters in the crowd.
Controversial Independent Senator Fraser Anning has been caught on camera punching a young protester after the boy cracked an egg on the back of his head at an event in Moorabbin. A 17-year-old boy was arrested and released without charge pending investigation. #auspol #7News pic.twitter.com/lbXLDwfS96
— 7 News Melbourne (@7NewsMelbourne) March 16, 2019
A spokesperson for Victoria police department in Melbourne did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment. However, several news organizations reported that the teen was arrested and released without charge.
Anning came under scrutiny on Friday for making a comment on Twitter in response to the attacks in two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, where at least 49 people were shot and killed.
"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 wrote.
His comments were strongly criticized by other Australian politicians.
"Those views have no place in Australia, let alone the Australian parliament," Prime Minister Scott Morrison wrote on Twitter.
The Labor foreign affairs spokeswoman, Penny Wong, said Anning did not represent Australia.
Anning is known as a far-right politician in Australia. He was one of only 12 senators who voted against legalizing same-sex marriage in 2017 and has frequently suggested tightening immigration rule in the country, even calling for a vote on a Muslim ban in 2018.