Iman Zand pleads guilty to explosive offence after Maida Vale mosque attack

Iman Zand, 47, of Edgware, entered a guilty plea at Wood Green Crown Court on 29 July 2026 for possession of an explosive with intent to injure property. The charge relates to a petrol‑bomb attack on the Islamic Centre of England in Maida Vale that took place just after midnight on 3 February. The court hearing confirmed that Zand had thrown a burning object that landed on the roof of an outdoor shed, igniting a fire that damaged the cabin but left the building’s occupants unharmed.

Court proceedings

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During the hearing, Zand also admitted to an earlier charge of causing an explosion likely to endanger life or injure property, a matter that was addressed at a prior appearance this week. He told the magistrate that he was experiencing mental‑health difficulties at the time of the attack, a statement recorded by the court. The judge accepted the plea and ordered a further sentencing hearing, leaving the final term of imprisonment and any fine to be determined at a later date.

“This was a premeditated and deeply disturbing attack which caused significant concern both within the local community and across the country,”

Paul Ridley, Detective Chief Inspector, Met Police

Police response and community impact

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Met Police officers responded after security guards at the centre reported incendiary devices being thrown over the perimeter wall. CCTV released by the force shows a man standing on the pavement outside the gates, hurling a bright, burning object that struck the shed roof. Investigators concluded the attack was motivated by the suspect’s belief that the centre was linked to the Iranian government, and they recorded the incident as a hate crime. No members of the public were injured, and the damaged cabin was later repaired.

Next steps for the offender

Zand remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing at Wood Green Crown Court. The judge will consider the seriousness of the offence, the hate‑crime classification and the defendant’s mental‑health claim when determining the penalty. The Met Police have urged local residents to stay alert and to report any suspicious activity near places of worship. Community leaders have thanked officers for their swift response and have called for continued vigilance to protect all faith groups in the borough.