Man convicted of arson attack on Maida Vale Islamic Centre

A man who threw petrol bombs into the grounds of an Islamic centre has been convicted following a Met Police investigation.

Iman Zand, 47 (30.03.1978), of Green Lane, Edgware, appeared at Wood Green Crown Court on Friday, 13 November, where he pleaded guilty to possession of an explosive with intent to injure property.

At an earlier hearing on Wednesday, 11 November, he pleaded guilty to a charge of causing an explosion likely to endanger life or injure property.

The conviction follows an attack on the Islamic Centre of England in Maida Vale in February 2026.

The centre has previously been the scene of anti-Iranian regime protests. Police suspect that Zand – a British national born in Iran – targeted the site as he believed it to be linked to the Iranian government.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Ridley, who led the investigation, said: “This was a premeditated and deeply disturbing attack which caused significant concern both within the local community and across the country. Zand is clearly a dangerous individual.

“Armed with petrol bombs, the defendant travelled to the place of worship under the cover of darkness and carried out a targeted attack that could easily have resulted in devastating loss of life.

“I would like to pay tribute to officers on the ground who responded rapidly as well as to the Maida Vale community for their support and assistance throughout the investigation.

“The outcome sends a powerful message that hatred and violence directed towards any community will not be tolerated, and that we remain committed to identifying those responsible for such offences, bringing them to justice and protecting all Londoners."

At around 00:10hrs on Tuesday, 3 February, police were called to the Islamic Centre after a security guard reported that incendiary devices had been thrown into the premises.

Officers arrived within minutes, and established that a suspect had approached the premises, lighting one and throwing two bottles containing accelerant over the site wall, before fleeing the scene in a car.

The attack caused fire damage to a cabin within the grounds of the centre. Fortunately, the main building was not damaged, and nobody was injured.

An investigation was immediately launched, with the attack treated as a hate crime. In the days that followed neighbourhood officers carried out reassurance patrols, and engaged with local residents and representatives from the Islamic Centre.

Extensive CCTV enquiries enabled detectives to trace the movements of the suspect before and after the attack. Footage showed a man arriving in a car, approaching the gates of the centre and throwing the bottles, before making off.

Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras in the area were checked by officers, and these linked the car to Zand.

Later that day, they stopped the suspect near his home in Edgware, and arrested him on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.

Specialist forensic examinations were carried out at the scene, and the bottles used in the attack were recovered.

At interview, Zand gave no comment. He was charged and remanded in custody.

At court, he accepted responsibility for the attack, but claimed he was experiencing mental health difficulties at the time.

Zand is due to be sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court at a later date.