Teenager, 19, who 'assaulted a photographer after hassling female journalist' at a Fraser Anning event was a promising rugby player for a private school
- Max Towns allegedly assaulted photographer at Fraser Anning press conference
- The 19-year-old attended Waverley College in the ritzy Sydney eastern suburbs
- He was an athletic teenager and even a star rugby league player during school
- Facebook activity shows Mr Towns had interactions with right-wing content
The teenage boy charged over the assault of a news photographer during Senator Fraser Anning's press conference on Friday was once a promising rugby league player.
Max Towns, 19, was allegedly caught up in a brawl following Senator Anning's visit to Cronulla, 30kms south of Sydney on Friday morning.
Senator Anning was visiting the area to announce his Conservative National Party's election candidate for the seat of Cook, Peter Kelly.
Local journalist Eliza Barr took the visit as an opportunity to probe Mr Anning and questioned him over his claims of Muslim-linked hate crimes in the area.
She pressed him to provide proof on the matter, before Mr Towns, who was in the crowd, is believed to have made intimidating remarks towards her.
Following the conference he is alleged to have then assaulted photographer Dylan Robinson.
The 19-year-old was charged with numerous offences including common assault, intimidation and behave in an offensive manner.
As he prepares to front court over the alleged assault, details of his past have begun to surface.
A man charged over the assault of a photographer during a Fraser Anning press conference was once a promising rugby league player (pictured, Max Towns leaves Sutherland Police Station on Friday)
Max Towns, 19, was allegedly caught up in a brawl following Mr Anning's visit to Cronulla, 30kms south of Sydney on Friday morning
Facebook photos show Mr Towns was athletic as a teenager and even a star rugby league player
Mr Towns lives in Randwick and attended Waverley College, a private school located in Sydney's ritzy eastern suburbs.
Facebook photos show the 19-year-old was athletic as a teenager and even a star rugby league player.
One photo illustrates Mr Towns dressed in a rugby league jersey as he cradles the football.
'Waverley College student Max Towns has been tearing it up!' the Facebook post reads.
'His favorite NRL player is Greg Inglis. He draws many comparisons to Greg Inglis with Max being the fastest runner in the school and having brute strength to fend off opposition.'
Mr Towns appears to have changed since his schooling days, with high school friends of the teenager's declining to comment when asked about his character.
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Mr Town's Facebook activity shows numerous interactions with right-wing content, and he is a member of the 'New South Wales - Fraser Anning’s Conservative Nationals' support group on Facebook.
He appears to have liked an image from October 20, 2018 of activist Neil Erikson. A photo of the far-right identity is superimposed over the Australian flag. Next to him is an emblem of his nationalist group, 'Cooks Convicts'.
Mr Towns also liked a January 19, 2019 photo that illustrates a number of Senator Anning's policies under the heading: 'What I stand for'.
Included in the list is: 'End All Third World Immigration'.
Mr Towns openly pledged his allegiance to Mr Anning in a Facebook post on April 9, with the words, 'Victory or death'.
Mr Towns is a self-declared member of far-right group True Blue Crew, police sources told St George Shire Standard.
Senator Anning held a press conference in Brisbane on Friday afternoon, where he told reporters he did not know anything about the attacker.
Mr Anning was not in the vicinity during the alleged attack, which happened after the conference.
The politician was waiting on the opposite side of the park at the time.
Mr Towns lives in Randwick and is understood to have attended Waverley College, a private school located in Sydney's ritzy eastern suburbs
Mr Town's Facebook activity also shows numerous interactions with right-wing content
'As I said, I wasn’t there, so I don’t know what went down, or what led up to it and I have no knowledge of those things.'
Mr Anning said that he wasn't aware if Mr Towns was a member of his Conservative National Party.
Though he said he would have no problem kicking out the 19-year-old, if he was in the wrong.
'If he was hit first then he has the right to defend himself, as anyone does, but if he has just assaulted someone then he doesn't belong in my party,' Anning said.
'It’s pretty hard to take responsibility for someone’s actions, people do silly things from all walks of life and I don’t advocate any violence.'
Mr Anning went on to say in any matter, his supporters were less violent than the 'loony left'.
'The left-wing supporters are violent, much more violent than mine,' he said.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison on the other hand was quick to condemn the alleged actions of Mr Towns.
'That type of behaviour has no place in Australia, that type of violence that we’ve seen today, and I’m glad our local police and security people down in the Shire have taken that matter into hand and there’s no place for that in Australian politics.'
Mr Towns was granted strict conditional bail. He is set to front Sutherland Local Court on May 16.
Mr Towns liked an image from October 20, 2018 of activist Neil Erikson. A photo of the far-right identity is superimposed over the Australian flag. Next to him is an emblem of his nationalist group, 'Cooks Convicts'
Mr Towns also liked a January 19, 2019 photo that illustrates a number of Senator Anning's policies under the heading: 'What I stand for'
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