Inexcusable

The Herald reports:

A young child was allegedly hit on the head by a shovel-wielding man while leaving a pro-Palestine rally in Auckland’s Aotea Square yesterday afternoon.

Hundreds of people gathered in the square around 2pm on Sunday, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

A member of New Zealand’s Palestinian community who was at the rally, Rand Hazou, said witnesses described the attacker waiting off to the side on Greys Ave between the Town Hall and the square.

“At the close of the rally around 5pm, we got a report he had attacked a young child.

Superintendent Sunny Patel, the acting Auckland District Commander, said police had arrested a man after a child was seriously hurt as he was leaving a protest.

The assault occurred behind the Auckland Town Hall as crowds dispersed, Patel said last night. The victim was in a serious condition in Starship Hospital. The boy was described by witnesses as being about 5 or 6 years old.

“Prior to this attack, the man arrested had been receiving support of the mental health services. Police are still working to establish the events that occurred in the lead up to this incident and we are speaking with a number of witnesses.”

It is unclear the motivation of the attacker but regardless of motivation, the attacker should face serious criminal consequences for their actions. To attack a child with a shovel is disgusting.