City
Epaper

Australia's 'Egg Boy' donates to NZ attack survivors

By IANS | Updated: May 29, 2019 11:45 IST

An Australian teenager, who broke an egg on a controversial far-right senator's head for blaming Muslims for the Christchurch attack, has donated $69,000 to survivors of the New Zealand mosque attacks.

Open in App

Will Connolly, 17, egged Fraser Anning in March, prompting people online to dub him the "Egg Boy" and flooded him with donations to pay his legal expenses, the BBC reported.

Anning had caused fury after the March 15 attack when he said Muslim migration was to blame for the Christchurch shootings that killed 51 people.

The lawmaker was formally censured by Australia's Senate in April for his "appalling" remarks, made on the day of the shootings.

Connolly had confronted the senator from behind as he gave a press conference in Melbourne on March 16. Footage of the clash went viral. It showed Anning physically retaliating before his supporters tackled the teenager to the ground.

Online fundraising campaigns were set up for Connolly to "buy more eggs" and to cover potential legal fees. Police chose not to press any charges instead gave the teenager an "official caution", the BBC report said.

On Tuesday, Connolly announced that he had transferred "all monies" to New Zealand charities in charge of official fundraising efforts. "To the victims of the tragedy, I whole heartedly hope that this can bring some relief to you," he said.

Though his actions drew praise, they also sparked a conversation in Australia about forms of political protest.

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: Fraser Anning
Open in App

International Realted Stories

InternationalIndian Naval Officer pays courtesy visit to Maldives defence officials

InternationalIndia, France sign intergovernmental agreement on 26 Rafale Jets for Indian Navy

InternationalTrump wishes "good luck" to Canadians amid elections, proposes US statehood

InternationalPoland advances plan for first nuclear power plant

InternationalDeath toll from Iran's port blast reaches 65