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An obscure flag favoured by internet trolls sparked a chaotic brawl involving UKIP supporters at a Wetherspoon pub in Exeter.

It kicked off at the boozer shortly before controversial UKIP candidate Carl Benjamin and political commentator Milo Yiannopoulos arrived at Georges Meeting House on South Street for a post-rally pint.

The fight, involving UKIP supporters and left-wing activists who had already clashed at the UKIP rally at the Quay, broke out over the meaning of the 'Kekistan' flag hanging over the balcony of the pub's upstairs seating area.

The banner, which resembles the 1930s flag of the Nazi Party, represents a parody ideology pushed by Benjamin's online persona: Sargon of Akkad. (More on the meaning of that flag described below.)

Eyewitnesses claim punches were later thrown at the entranceway and one person was held in a headlock.

(Image: Frankie Rufolo)

Benjamin supporter Frankie Rufolo, who stood for anti-Islam party The For Britain Movement at this month's local election, shared his version of events: "We had a fantastic day at Exeter Quay, so after the event we went to George's Meeting House before Carl [Benjamin] turned up.

"We were sat in the upstairs seating, moving all the tables together so supporters could have a drink. We started hanging flags over the balcony.

"So we had a Devon flag, a British flag and a Kekistan flag.

"Left wing types grabbed and stole the Kekistan flag calling it a Nazi flag. I chased them downstairs and confronted them both and they were getting pretty aggressive.

(Image: Matthew Carter)

"A little bit later I went outside the front of Georges Meeting House and one of the guys who had stolen the flag, wearing a red cap, came up to me and asked me to 'educate him.'

The 19-year-old added: "The flag is there to be a parody of identity politics but he kept calling it a Nazi flag and started getting close to me so I put my hand out.

"Someone else, who may have been Carl Benjamin's security, stood up for me and that started a fight between them.

What is Kekistan? The flag which sparked a brawl in Exeter Kekistan is a fictional country which originated on online image-based message board 4chan, where a group of users jokingly bandied together to create a 'micronation' on the Internet which pushes the boundaries on taste and taboos. The bizarre idea of 'Kekistan' soon circulated more widely on Twitter after YouTuber Sargon of Akkad - UKIP candidate Carl Benjamin - began to publicise it and push it forwards. It has not only become widely associated with Internet trolls, but the Alt-Right, a modern form of primarily web-based Far Right politics in the United States and Europe. The flag itself appears to be a replica of the Nazi flag from the 1930s, replacing red with green and the Swastika with a symbol made out of the letters 'K'.

"In the chaos one person had an arm around my neck then some other Carl supporters came out. Managers then came out and stopped the fight. Carl wasn't there at the time and Milo [Yiannopoulos] arrived later."

Mr Rufolo claims he told Carl Benjamin about the incident outside and was told he had been "relieved" the situation had calmed down before his arrival.

(Image: Frankie Rufolo)

Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “The manager saw the flags and removed them himself.

“He was unaware of the connotations of the flags.

“He was thanked by a group of people for taking the flags down.

“A little later the group who had the flags and the group who thanked the manager were seen outside the pub arguing.

“The manager asked them to leave the area and said they would not be readmitted to the pub.

“They have not been told but have been told they can’t come back in with flags.

“Wetherspoon does not allow political meetings in its pubs, however, on occasion, political figures do come into Wetherspoon pubs and speak with customers.

“However, they can’t hold any formal meeting.”

Mr Benjamin, who is standing as a UKIP candidate for the South West in next week's European Parliament elections, arrived late to the lunchtime rally at Exeter Quay.

Protestors chanted "What do we want? Milkshakes. When do we want them? Now!" in reference to his visit in Totnes the previous day in which he was doused with the iced beverage.

Protester Lizi Allnatt said: "I'm here because I think I have got a duty to be here. I can't believe UKIP are supporting Carl Benjamin. I don't know which is worse. UKIP for supporting him or Carl Benjamin."

His late arrival was blamed on the tyres of the UKIP tourbus being slashed at the same South Devon town.

The candidate rose to notoriety after Tweeting a message to Labour MP Jess Phillips, saying, "I wouldn't even rape you” in 2016. He has reportedly refused to apologise for the comment, despite attracting widespread criticism and calls for UKIP to sack him.

Mr Yiannopoulos, who had joined him for the visit to the Devon capital, is no stranger to controversy either. This month Facebook banned several accounts with huge followings - including conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and Yiannopoulos himself.

A fierce critic of Islam and feminism, he was once condemned for a Twitter spat with Leslie Jones over her role in the 2016 all-female Ghostbusters reboot