Man who protected Fraser Anning from eggboy is a convicted criminal

One of the men who rushed to protect Fraser Anning from the egg-wielding youth is a convicted criminal and wanted by NSW Police for tormenting a Gosford church.

• Protesters target Anning
• Read all about the eggboy ‘attack’

One of the men who rushed to protect Fraser Anning from the egg-wielding youth is a convicted criminal and wanted by NSW Police for tormenting a Gosford church.

Neil Erikson is one of the men who grappled with the 17-year-old who egged the Senator in Melbourne over the weekend.

NSW Police confirmed to the Daily Telegraph there was a warrant for Erikson’s arrest after he invaded the Gosford Anglican Church wielding whips and swords in May last year.

Neil Erikson (left) helps subdue a protester who threw an egg at Senator Anning. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Erikson along with fellow convicted criminal and United Patriots leader Blair Cottrell have been known to associate with Queensland Senator Anning.

Both of them were allegedly involved in the invading of the Gosford Anglican Church.

Father Rod Bower said he was “appalled” to see Erikson on top of 17-year-old Will Connolly — who has since been dubbed “eggboy”.

“The young man shouldn’t have hit Senator Anning with an egg but there is a lot of difference between putting an egg on someone’s head and holding them down in a headlock,” Fr Bower said.

Right-wing activist Neil Erikson has a warrant out for his arrest. Picture: David Crosling

“Neil Erikson is a physically big man and to get on top of that young man is an appalling act of violence.

“It just shows the type of person that is drawn to Senator Anning.”

Senator Anning’s association with Erikson and Cottrell, two of the “Bendigo three” has come under the spotlight in the past.

In January, taxpayers paid for Senator Anning to fly to Melbourne for a rally involving both right-wing extremists and anti-fascists.

Will Connolly has since been dubbed “eggboy”. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

The rally was organised by Cottrell and Erikson.

Erikson and Cottrell were branded with the name the “Bendigo three” along with Christopher Neil Shortis.

They were convicted of inciting contempt for Muslims at an anti-Mosque development in Bendigo in 2015.

Dutton: The Greens are ‘fringe dwellers’

Peter Dutton has labelled the Greens “fringe dwellers” and dismissed accusations that the government whipped up anti-Muslim sentiment that has emboldened white supremacists.

The Home Affairs Minister also took aim at the “disgraceful” criticism of Australia’s security agencies for a lack of focus on far right extremists.

Peter Dutton has called The Greens “fringe dwellers”. Picture: Jono Searle

o think they (security agencies) are coming late to the party is complete rubbish,” he said.

His comments followed Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi claiming the government had given a “nod and a wink” to white supremacists.

“What they’ve been doing does come with a cost, it does come with consequences because really they’ve been playing games with our lives,” she said.

Wentworth MP Kerryn Phelps also accused the Coalition of using immigration policy to divide Australians and for the government to “put away the dog whistle”.

But Mr Dutton said the Greens were “fringe dwellers as is Fraser Anning” — the independent senator who blamed Muslim immigration for the attack.

“I think we dismiss their views,” Mr Dutton told Sky News.

The Coalition and Labor will join together to censure Senator Anning in the Senate for his hateful remarks when parliament resumes next month.

Labor Senator Penny Wong said Mr Dutton was “normalising hate speech” and that there was a difference between the points the Greens had raised and Senator Anning’s comments.

“Political criticism is not the same as blaming Muslims for this terrorist act. Now is the time for decent politicians to show some ethical leadership. Our democracy requires it,” she tweeted.