Following the deadly shootings at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand in which 49 people were killed, Australian Senator Fraser Anning was widely criticized for blaming the attacks on the “immigration program which allowed Muslim fanatics to migrate New Zealand.”
In the video above, Anning is seen speaking at a news conference when a teenager approaches him and breaks an egg on his head. He turned around and punched the teen twice in the face. Several of Annings supporters immediately restrained the teen until police arrived. The 17-year-old was arrested.
Following the incident, the teen can be seen outside with police removing broken eggs from his pockets.
He was later released without being charged pending an investigation.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported “a fundraising page has been created to cover the boy’s legal fees and help him purchase “more eggs.”
Prior to this event, Anning had tweeted: “Does anyone still dispute the link between Muslim immigration and violence?”
He had also issued a statement which said:
I am utterly opposed to any form of violence within our community, and I totally condemn the actions of the gunman. 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.
The real cause of the bloodshed on New Zealand streets today is the immigration program which allowed Muslim fanatics to migrate to New Zealand in the first place.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison condemned Anning’s comments. He said, “In his conflation of this horrendous terrorist attack with issues of immigration, in his attack on Islamic faith specifically — these comments are appalling and they’re ugly and they have no place in Australia, in the Australian Parliament. He should be, frankly, ashamed of himself.”
Others in the Australian government were also critical of his remarks and have “agreed to pass a censure motion against Anning over his stance on the shootings when Parliament resumes in April.”
This was not the first time Anning has come under fire for making questionable remarks. Once, “he made a speech in Australia’s Parliament calling for a “final solution” to immigration.”
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