SYDNEY: Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison attending an interfaith service at St Mary's Cathedral in memory of those who lost their lives in the Christchurch mosque attacks — AFP
CANBERRA, Mar 17 (AP): Australia's prime minister on Sunday suggested an anti-Muslim senator should be charged after he slapped a teen who cracked a raw egg over the legislator's head.
Sen. Fraser Anning has been widely condemned for blaming Muslim immigration for racist attacks on two New Zealand mosques that claimed at least 50 lives.
Will Connolly, the 17-year-old boy who egged Anning, has become an online hero for the incident, which was captured on video.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Sunday took Connolly's side, telling reporters: "The full force of the law should be applied to Sen. Anning."
Police allege Connolly, who calls himself "Egg Boy" online, assaulted the senator with the egg.
Anning "retaliated and struck the teen twice" before Connolly was dragged to the ground by Anning supporters, a police statement said.
"The incident is being actively investigated by Victoria Police in its entirety," the statement said, including Anning's actions.
Anning came under blistering criticism over tweets on Friday, including one that said, "Does anyone still dispute the link between Muslim immigration and violence?"
"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," he said in a later statement.
Anning has now been assigned a federal police security detail, a precaution usually reserved for the prime minister.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern for the first time on Sunday joined the public condemnation of Anning.
Asked by a journalist what she thought of Anning's comments, she replied simply: "They're a disgrace."
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