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Reuters
Senator Fraser Anning retaliated after a teenager squashed an egg on his head
An Australian senator acted in self-defence when he physically retaliated against a boy who had smashed an egg on the lawmaker’s head, police have ruled.
Video of last month’s clash involving Senator Fraser Anning went viral and sparked debate in Australia over who – if anyone – should face police action.
Police cautioned the 17-year-old boy, but said neither would face charges.
The incident happened after Mr Anning caused fury by blaming the New Zealand mosque attacks on Muslim migration.
Last week, the Senate censured Mr Anning for his comments which he made on the day that dozens of Muslims were killed by a gunman in Christchurch.
The egg incident happened a day after the attacks when the teenager, Will Connolly, walked up behind the senator during a televised press conference.
Mr Anning responded by hitting the teenager before the lawmaker’s supporters tackled the boy to the ground and put him in a chokehold.
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EPA
Will Connolly was tackled to the ground after squashing an egg on Mr Anning’s head
On Tuesday, authorities they had made a decision “not to charge” the senator.
“On assessment of all the circumstances, the 69-year-old’s actions were treated as self-defence and there was no reasonable prospect of conviction,” Victoria Police said in a statement.
The teenager had also avoided prosecution but would receive an “official caution”, they added.
Police said they were still searching for one man who allegedly kicked the teenager repeatedly while he was pinned to the ground.
Support for ‘egg boy’
Though some criticised the teenager’s actions at the time, he was largely celebrated online as a hero and quickly earned the nickname “egg boy”.
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AFP
Street art of the “egg boy” incident in Indonesia
An online campaign raised more than A$80,000 (£43,000; $57,000) for any future legal proceedings he may encounter. The teenager was also offered concert tickets, praised by celebrities and featured in street murals.
“I understand what I did was not the right thing to do,” he told the local Ten network last month.
“However, this egg has united people.”
Mr Anning has not apologised for his comments about the massacre, despite a public backlash which saw 1.4 million people sign a petition demanding his resignation.
He was officially condemned by the Senate for seeking to “attribute blame to victims of a horrific crime and to vilify people on the basis of religion”.