A gathering of ‘far right nationalists’ in a village social centre was raided by suspected anti-fascists who allegedly fired air guns, threw chairs and swung fire extinguishers.

Terrified onlookers were forced to barricade themselves inside as the balaclava-clad gang, dressed like a ‘special forces unit’, smashed the windows of Almondsbury Sports and Social Centre and attacked members of the meeting.

Three people were left injured after the raid against the group, said to be called the ‘Bristol Forum’, which one person said was formed of nationalists.

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Attendee Adrian Romilly said it is suspected the raiders were an anti-fascist group and likened the scenes to a ‘special forces’-style attack.

He described the event as a meeting of ‘far right nationalists’.

image: http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/images/localworld/ugc-images/276268/binaries/20170107_135219.jpg

Photos of the raid show balaclava-clad attackers in a confrontations with members of the meeting

“By the way [the attackers] acted they gave the impression they’d done this sort of thing before and their silence, dress and general ‘professionalism’ added to the sense of menace’,” said Mr Romilly, who lives in Plymouth but attended the meeting with a friend.

He said the meeting was made up of people who ‘discriminate in favour of [their] own people’.

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Mr Romilly described how the chaos unfolded at about 3pm on Saturday, January 7, one hour after the meeting started.

“I was asking one of the speakers a question, then there was a sound like a rifle shot and the first window glass splintered, shards of glass scattering over the place where the speaker had been sitting moments before,” he said.

“This was followed by a series of sharp cracks as a succession of windows were broken by a fire extinguisher and by chairs brought up from a lower floor.

image: http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/images/localworld/ugc-images/276268/binaries/20170107_135231.jpg

Three people were injured in the fracas, before police were called and the attackers fled

“While the windows were being broken several of the attackers were trying to force the entrance doors to the room in which the meeting was taking place.

“The doors were bulging and appeared to be about to give way but, fortunately, some of the audience counter-pushed and kept them out.”

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Detectives investigating the raid said CCTV is now being reviewed in a bid to identify the raiders.

Mr Romilly said a ‘scuffle’ broke out in the landing area of the meeting room as police were called, before the attackers fled.

He urged anybody with information about the raid to give details to police.

The attackers ‘left no visiting card and carried out their work in silence’, he said.

image: http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/images/localworld/ugc-images/276268/binaries/venue12.png

The drama unfolded at Almondsbury Sports and Social Club, off the A38 Gloucester Road

A police spokesman said: “We’re investigating linked offences of criminal damage and assault following an incident at Almondsbury Sports and Social Club on Saturday 7 January.

“Several people tried to disrupt a private meeting being held at the venue and caused damage to windows.

“Three people suffered minor injuries after being assaulted after the damage was caused.

“Our investigation into these offences continues and we’re reviewing CCTV footage and carrying out forensic enquiries.

“If anyone has information on who was responsible, we’d encourage them to call 101 and give the call handler the reference number 5217004475.”

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