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Shocking video has emerged showing violent clashes at a pre-season football friendly apparently targeted by far-right protesters.

The game between non-league sides Thamesmead Town and Clapton FC was abandoned early in the first half as hooligans brawled and threw missiles with racist abuse also heard.

Riot police were called as two people suffered head injuries in the disturbance in South East London last night. Officers are now investigating.

Supporters of Clapton, based in Forest Gate, East London, claim they were targeted by a far-right group unconnected to Thamesmead Town when they arrived at the game.

Video filmed during the clash, and posted on social media, also captures a yob shouting "we hate n*****" in the brawl with the away fans.

The Clapton Ultras supporters group claim they had been threatened earlier in the week by a far-right group because of the multi-cultural and anti-racist stance of their fanbase.

A statement from the group said: "In the last few days, we received threatening messages from a fascist group regarding this fixture.

"This information was passed on to the football club and its fans who decided to travel as one group to the game as fan safety is the number one priority.

"As we arrived at the game around 15 minutes after kick off and began to enter, Clapton fans were immediately attacked with weapons and missiles by a large group already present inside the ground, who threw glasses, bottles, bricks, signs and a fire extinguisher at Clapton fans.

"Clapton fans have no history or rivalry with Thamesmead fans and this attack was not made by Thamesmead fans. The attackers sang racist chants as they pelted Clapton fans with missiles.

"This was a planned attack, orchestrated by fascists and their allies as a politically motivated assault on Clapton fans for our politics of anti-sexism, anti-homophobia, anti-racism and anti-fascism."

Around 40 Clapton supporters were detained on a bus for a short period after the game was abandoned as the trouble was dispersed but no-one was arrested.

A tweet from the local Metropolitan Police Thamesmead account suggested officers were aware of intelligence the match could be targeted by far-right fanatics.

A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said an investigation had been launched but refused to comment on what sparked the disturbances.

She said: "At approximately 8.10pm yesterday, officers who were on-duty at Thamesmead Town FC witnessed a group of individuals throw items towards a second group leading to a short period of disorder.

"Officers, including the Territorial Support Group and a police helicopter attended. The group was dispersed and a short time later, officers stopped approximately 40 people who had boarded a bus nearby.

"Two people were treated for head injuries."

After the game was called off with Thamesmead leading 2-0, Clapton defender Tom Webb tweeted: "Game abandoned after 20 mins due to crowd trouble :/ No place for the EDL anywhere in life..."

Facebook posts from an apparent far-right group suggested fans of Football League sides linked to the far-right had come together to launch the attack.

Clapton FC play in the Essex Senior League - Level 9 of the football pyramid - and Thamesmead compete one division higher in the Tyman League Division One North.

Clapton chief executive Vincent McBean told the London Evening Standard that 50 people, who he claimed were linked to far-right groups and other London clubs, attacked supporters of his side.

He said: "There was some walking wounded on both sides, cuts to the head from flying debris, but nothing more serious I understand. One Clapton fan went to hospital for treatment as a precaution."

Thamesmead Town have been contacted for comment.