Political projectiles: Politicians who have been pelted
From eggs to shoes to souvenir cathedrals, politicians have had all kinds of objects hurled at them. DW looks at some high-flying examples.
Australian egghead
After the terror attacks on two mosques in New Zealand in March 2019, far-right politician Fraser Anning blamed them on "Muslim immigration." His words spurred outrage — and action from one 17-year-old, who smashed a raw egg on the back of Anning's head. The boy was arrested and released without charge. But it may not be the end, as online donations were made to help the teen buy "more eggs."
Flying shoe, size 10
In 2008, US President George W. Bush visited Iraq, where he gave a news conference alongside then-Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. A journalist, angry at the US intervention in Iraq, hurled first one shoe, then the other at the president, shouting, "This is a farewell kiss from the Iraqi people, you dog." Bush managed to dodge them both and later told the press that the shoe-hurler wore a size 10.
A ripe mango for Maduro
Venezuela's acting president may not have a thing for mangoes, but his supporters seem to: Nicolas Maduro has been pelted more than once with mangoes with messages written on them. In 2015, a woman scribbled a note on the fruit, asking the president to call her and giving her name and number. She hurled it at his bus as he went by — and he later called her, granting her wish for a new apartment.
Cathedral up close
In 2009, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was meeting and greeting public when a man with a history of mental illness hurled a souvenir statue of Milan's cathedral in his face. The man later said he had no political affiliation and apologized. Berlusconi was hospitalized and treated for a broken nose and two cracked teeth. He left the hospital after four days with bandages on his face.
'Cakes for misanthropes'
Dessert does not discriminate, and politicians of all stripes around the world have received pies or cakes in their faces, including German politicians. In May 2016, Left parliamentary leader Sahra Wagenknecht received a face full of cake during an event. The activist behind the cake said he was a member of an "anti-fascist initiative, 'Cakes for misanthropes.'" The cake appeared to be chocolate.
Red paint for a Green politician
German politician Joschka Fischer was serving as foreign minister in 1999 when he attended a gathering of his Green party in May in Bielefeld, North Rhine-Westphalia. A protester, upset at Fischer's support for the NATO bombing campaign in Kosovo, threw a bag of red paint at the politician's head, covering him in the color and damaging his eardrum.