Australia police won't charge 'Egg Boy' or senator over racism spat

Teenager Will Connolly gained fame for egging Fraser Anning after his Christchurch attack comments

FILE - In this March 16, 2019, file image made from video, a teenager breaks an egg on the head of Senator Fraser Anning while he holds a press conference, in Melbourne. Police say they will not charge the Australian teenager or a senator for a spat in which the boy cracked an egg on the politician’s head and the man retaliated. (AP Photo/File)
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The Melbourne teenager who last month cracked an egg on a politician's head has avoided charges, with state police also declining to charge his target Fraser Anning for retaliating.

Victoria state police said on Tuesday that Will Connolly, 17, has been given an official caution. They said Mr Anning, an Australian senator, acted in self-defence when he reacted by striking the teenager twice.

Mr Connolly was called "Egg Boy" after the stunt, which he carried at a press conference after Mr Anning blamed the Christchurch mosque massacre on immigration.

Mr Connolly appeared on Ten network's The Project last month and said he was disgusted by the senator's comments but understood that he acted inappropriately.

"I understand what I did was not the right thing to do," he said. "There is no reason to physically attack anyone."

Police said they were still trying to identify a man who allegedly kicked Connolly while the teenager was restrained on the floor by Mr Anning's supporters after egging the senator.

Australia's Parliament passed a censure motion against Mr Anning last week for making  divisive comments that sought "to attribute blame to victims of a horrific crime and to vilify people on the basis of religion, which do not reflect the opinions of the Australian Senate or the Australian people".

Mr Anning, 69, who dismissed the motion as an attack on free speech, has defended striking Mr Connolly. "He got a slap across the face, which is what his mother should have given him long ago, because he's been misbehaving badly," the politician said.