Australian senator blames Muslim immigrants for Christchurch mosque attacks, gets hit by an egg

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ANI
Last Updated : Mar 17 2019 | 2:20 AM IST

An Australian senator has stirred up a controversy after he linked the deadly terror attacks at two mosques in New Zealand's Christchurch city with "immigration program which allowed Muslim fanatics to migrate to New Zealand in the first place."

Immediately after the senator made this statement, a teenager smashed a raw egg on the back side of the lawmaker's head, according to a video that went viral on social media.

Hours after the terror attack, Queensland Senator Fraser Anning, had issued a statement on March 15 condemning the "actions of the gunman", adding that he was "utterly opposed to any form of violence within our community."

However, Fraser said: "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 bloodshed on New Zealand streets today is the immigration program which allowed Muslim fanatics to migrate to New Zealand in the first place," he said.

He then made anti-Islam comments, saying the faith is the "religious equivalent of fascism".

During an event in Melbourne on Saturday, Anning was speaking to reporters at the sidelines, when a teenager filming him smashed a raw egg on the back side of the lawmaker's head, according to a video that went viral on social media.

Infuriated, Anning was seen landing blows on the boy's face and was taking another swing before the two were separated. The teenager was heckled by the authorities following the incident, the footage showed.

A political reporter of Australia's ABC News, Henry Belot, posted the video on his Twitter handle.

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First Published: Mar 17 2019 | 1:43 AM IST

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