Scenes of chaos erupted outside a mosque in London on Friday, 6 March 2026, as Iranian demonstrators supporting and opposing the Islamic Republic clashed violently — sparking panic and drawing swift police intervention.
Clash Near Islamic Centre of England
According to the Daily Mail, dozens of protesters from both sides gathered on opposite sides of the road near the Islamic Centre of England (ICE) in Maida Vale around 7:35 p.m. Supporters of Reza Pahlavi — son of Iran’s last monarch — carried the pre-1979 Iranian flag, featuring the Lion and Sun emblem. Some also waved Israeli and U.S. flags. Across the street, near the mosque, another group began shouting insults at them.
Violence Erupts on Pedestrian Crossing
Video footage shows tensions escalating rapidly between the two groups before erupting into physical violence on a pedestrian crossing. Drivers were forced to stop as demonstrators kicked and punched each other. A 17-year-old was reportedly injured in the head during the scuffle. The violence subsided almost as quickly as it began, with both sides retreating to their respective sides of the road — though shouting continued. One protester was heard yelling ‘Javid Shah!’ and ‘Long live the King!’ before the video ended.
Police Response and No Arrests
Metropolitan Police officers arrived on scene around 7:35 p.m. following reports of the disturbance and dispersed the crowd. No arrests were made.
History of Tension at ICE
The Islamic Centre of England has previously been at the centre of similar clashes between pro- and anti-regime Iranians. The latest incident occurred amid ongoing U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iran — now in their seventh day — with former U.S. President Donald Trump stating Washington would accept only the Iranian regime’s ‘unconditional surrender’.
Controversial Vigil for Khamenei
Earlier this week, the mosque drew criticism after hosting a vigil commemorating Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a joint U.S.-Israeli airstrike in Tehran. ICE referred to him on social media as a ‘great martyr’ — a term it had previously used for Qasem Soleimani, commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, after his 2020 assassination by a U.S. drone strike.
Ongoing Scrutiny
The Islamic Centre of England has faced official scrutiny before: in 2022, the UK’s Charity Commission launched an investigation into whether it promoted the ideology of the Iranian regime. More recently, Labour MPs have called for stricter oversight of organisations allegedly linked to the Iranian state.