The boy who egged far-right Australian senator Fraser Anning has been named online as Will Connolly – with Aussies hailing him a "hero".
Mr Anning sparked outrage on Friday when, in the immediate aftermath of the New Zealand mosque shootings, he said the attacks “highlight growing fears” over an “increasing Muslim presence”.
It prompted Will to egg the senator on Saturday as he spoke to reporters during a live TV broadcast in Melbourne.
The youth, believed to be 17, has since been nicknamed “egg boy”.
And Will – who was punched in the face twice by Mr Anning before being apprehended by a group of men who appeared to be the senator’s aides – later posted a short clip reflecting on the drama.
“Don’t egg politicians,” he mused. “You get tackled by 30 bogans at the same time: I learnt the hard way.”
The word bogan is Australian and New Zealand slang for someone who is considered unsophisticated.
The boy’s actions, for which he was arrested but later released without charge, had people hailing “egg boy” as a hero.
Louie Balka wrote on Twitter: “I would like to THANK YOU #Will_Connolly #eggboy for doing what the world would like to do to @fraser_anning and the courage you showed being in the same room with the scum of Society.”
Another screamed: “WILL CONNOLLY A LEGEND OF AUSTRALIA.”
And another named Jason said: “They see you as a threat, we see you as a hero, a hero who knows the truth and righteousness.”
