Far-right Australian Senator Fraser Anning compared his egging by a teenage boy to the New Zealand terror attack in which a white supremacist shot dead dozens of Muslim worshippers at two mosques.
Anning, 69, who represents Queensland, sparked outrage when he released a statement blaming the racist New Zealand attack on Muslim immigration. He refused to back down or apologize.
Following the comments, William Connolly, 17, from Melbourne, Australia, cracked an egg on the back of Anning's head as he talked to reporters.
The senator then turned around and slapped the boy twice in the face before two of his supporters strong-armed Connolly to the floor, pinning him down.
Footage of the incident went viral and Connolly earned the nickname "Egg Boy." Victoria police are investigating.
In a video filmed in the aftermath of the egging and uploaded to YouTube, Anning is interviewed by a supporter about what happened.
"Because he was only a kid I only slapped him with an open hand, but, you know, he deserved that," Anning said.
"He needs to, you know, get a few manners, and just because somebody has a different opinion to you there's no need to attack them. Just like we saw over in New Zealand.
"No need to go and kill people and attack people just because they have a different view. I don't agree with them being here but, you know, no need to go and shoot them."
Last Friday, Brenton Tarrant, 28, allegedly entered two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, and shot dead 50 people, injuring others.
Tarrant streamed the attack live on social media and published a warped manifesto discussing his hatred of Muslims living in white-majority societies. He is in custody.
As condolences for the victims and condemnation for the attacker and his views poured in, Anning added his own statement.
Though condemning the attack and any violence, Anning went on to say the massacre "highlights is the growing fear within our community, both in Australia and New Zealand of the increasing Muslim presence."
He continued: "As always, leftwing politicians and the media will rush to claim that the causes of today's shootings lie with gun laws or those who hold nationalist views, but this is all cliched nonsense.
"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."
Anning was widely rebuked for the statement, which blamed the victims for the attack, and faced calls to resign or be forced out of the Australian Senate.
The senator has a history of racist comments and wants to keep Muslims out of Australia.
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