Friday night in London became the backdrop for intense altercations as supporters of the Iranian regime clashed with monarchists outside a mosque, creating scenes of chaos and confrontation. The tumult unfolded near the Islamic Centre of England (ICE) in Maida Vale, drawing attention and concern.

At around 7:35 PM, two opposing groups congregated on either side of the street, each expressing their fervent political stances. One group comprised supporters of Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s last monarch, who prominently displayed the pre-1979 Iranian flag adorned with a sun and lion emblem. They were joined by individuals waving Israeli and American flags, symbolizing a call for change.

Across the road, nearer to the mosque, a contingent of regime backers gathered, and tensions quickly escalated. Verbal exchanges between the two factions grew increasingly hostile, with neither side willing to back down.

The situation rapidly descended into violence, as seen in footage capturing the altercation. On a zebra crossing, members from both groups engaged in physical skirmishes, halting traffic and alarming onlookers. The clash resulted in a 17-year-old boy sustaining a head injury, underscoring the volatile nature of the confrontation.

Footage shows the shouting intensifying from both groups – before seconds later erupting into physical blows on a zebra crossing.

Motorists were brought to a halt as protesters kicked and punched at their opponents, which left a 17-year-old boy with a head injury.

As quickly as the violence erupted, it soon subsided, with both groups retreating to their respective sides while continuing to shout at one another. 

‘Javid Shah!’, ‘Long Live the King’, one campaigner screamed across the road, as the footage came to an end.

Iranian regime supporters violently clashed with monarchists in shocking scenes outside a London mosque on Friday night

Police arrived around 7.35pm after reports of the violent clash and officers dispersed the group, but no arrests were made.

The ICE has previously been the site of altercations between groups who support and are opposed to the regime in Iran, with the latest incident emerging as US and Israeli military action continued for the seventh day. 

Iran is also bracing for its heaviest night of bombardment, as Donald Trump warned that the United States would only accept the regime’s ‘unconditional surrender’.

Earlier this week, the mosque courted controversy after it hosted a vigil for the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The prayer service took place just a day after the Iranian Supreme Leader was killed by joint US-Israeli airstrikes over Tehran, with the centre describing Khamenei in a social media post as ‘a great martyr’. 

That same wording was applied by the mosque to Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) General Qassim Soleimani after he was killed in a US drone strike in January 2020. 

The mosque at the time held a candlelight memorial for Soleimani, who was considered the right-hand man of Khamenei before his assassination.

Then in October 2022, Seyed Hashem Moosavi, the centre’s director, gave a speech in which he described Iranian protesters against the regime as ‘enemies’ and ‘soldiers of Satan’. 

Moosavi also said women who refused to wear hijabs were guilty of spreading ‘poison’.

A month later, the Charity Commission launched a full-scale statutory inquiry over concerns the ICE has promoted the Iranian regime’s agenda – a move that could eventually see the mosque stripped of its charitable status. The investigation is ongoing. 

The centre was also highlighted in a letter submitted by Labour MPs to security minister Dan Jarvis earlier this week calling for tougher action on organisations linked to the Iranian state.

They warned that the organisations, including the ICE, ‘appear to be actively promoting the Iranian regime’s ideology and interests’. 

Since 2022, the Islamic Centre of England has been under investigation by the Charity Commission over concerns it has promoted the Iranian regime’s agenda

The ICE has said in a statement appearing on its website that it is an independent religious charity and not an ‘official office or representative body of any government, political entity, or individual’.

A statement added: ‘The centre does not represent, promote, or advocate for the political views or agendas of any state, figure or regime. 

‘Its religious guidance is confined to matters of faith, ethics, and spirituality. The centre promotes religious peace, and harmony between different faiths.

‘All activities of the centre are aligned with its charitable aims, to promote religious education, culture, moral guidance, and social cohesion, within the framework of UK law. 

‘The centre is non-political and remains committed to its role as a place of religious learning, service, and community support.’

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police told the Daily Mail: ‘Officers are investigating a disturbance which took place outside a mosque in Maida Vale on Friday March 6. 

‘Police were called to reports of a disturbance at 19.35 and were on the scene within minutes. 

‘A 17-year-old boy approached officers to report that he received a head injury. He was assessed at the scene but did not require medical assistance. No further inquiries have been reported.

‘Officers remained in the area until the group dispersed. 

‘No arrests have been made at this stage and enquiries are ongoing. We are aware of footage circulating on social media and will be reviewing that and CCTV as part of our enquiries. 

‘Officers will remain in the area and a dispersal order is in place to prevent further disorder.’

Police investigations are ongoing.