Victoria Police arrested a 37-year-old man from Hampton Park and a 14-year-old boy shortly after the Torquay incident took place. Authorities clarified that the victim was struck with a blunt weapon, amending a previous statement that identified the object as a baseball bat. One Nation federal leader Pauline Hanson visited the victim while he was receiving medical treatment at a Geelong hospital on Tuesday. Following the event, an online fundraiser established by the political party secured over $250,000 in donations by Wednesday afternoon.
Key points
Law enforcement determined that the Sunday night assault in Torquay was not driven by pol…: Law enforcement determined that the Sunday night assault in Torquay was not driven by political motives.
Politicians spanning the entire political spectrum issued statements condemning the alleg…: Politicians spanning the entire political spectrum issued statements condemning the alleged assault on the resident.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson traveled to a Geelong hospital on Tuesday to visit the r…: One Nation leader Pauline Hanson traveled to a Geelong hospital on Tuesday to visit the recovering supporter.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
An alleged attack on a One Nation supporter is not believed to have been politically motivated, Victoria police say, clarifying that a “blunt weapon” was allegedly used rather than a baseball bat as originally reported.
On Tuesday, police confirmed they arrested a 37-year-old Hampton Park man and a 14-year-old boy over the alleged attack on a 60-year-old man outside his Torquay home on Sunday night.
“It is believed they allegedly assaulted the man with a baseball bat before being arrested by attending units a short time later,” police said on Tuesday.
But on Wednesday, police had removed references to the baseball bat from their statement and instead alleged a “blunt weapon” was used.
“Detectives are not treating the incident as politically motivated,” a spokesperson said.
Politicians from across the political spectrum condemned the alleged attack, with One Nation’s federal leader, Pauline Hanson, visiting the alleged victim in Geelong hospital on Tuesday and the party launching an online fundraiser which had raised more than $250,000 as of 1pm on Wednesday.
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