A PROMINENT member of the embattled Lea Bridge Road mosque has slammed the police for “creating tension in the Muslim community”.

The mosque, which is managed by the Waltham Forest Islamic Association (WFIA), has been at the centre of an ongoing power struggle between two rival factions since 2006.

After accusations of violence from both groups as well as repeated claims that the outgoing committee refused to hold elections, mediation was held through Waltham Forest police.

Imtiaz Qadir, representing the outgoing committee, said: “The police abused their powers. It was a civil matter and they had no authority in this.

“It looks like the strategy when they got involved was a strategy for failure. It's made things much worse than they were prior to mediations.”

An election to choose a new management committee was held on August 16, won by the opposition, but the outgoing committee challenged the result.

It has been claimed that the Muslim Arbitration Tribunal, contracted to oversee the process, failed to send out invitations to all registered voters and that the election was a “sham”.

Despite this, a handover ceremony to the new committee was held on August 27, overseen by borough commander Chief Superintendent Mark Benbow.

Tariq Mahmood, representing the opposition group, has said he believes the new committee can still be instated and that the Charity Committee has approved the election result.

He said: “It's just a matter of getting the keys but we still might have to go to court.

“We're nearly there – it's just a matter of taking that final step.”

He added: "I very strongly refute the remarks about the police - we cannot be thankful enough for their involvement."

The previous committee sought a court order to prevent the opposition from taking office and a date has been set for a formal hearing on September 21.

Mr Qadir added: “The police have behaved irresponsibly and created tension in the Muslim community.”

A Charity Commission investigation was launched into the purchase of a building using more than £1million of WFIA funds after it was found it had no properly appointed trustees.

A date has not been set for the release of a report on the investigation.

A spokeswoman for the Charity Commission said: “It has been reported to the Commission that proper elections were held in accordance with the charity's constitution and provisions for the election were made.”

Ch Supt Benbow said: "I have completed my duties as required by the sealed order of the Charity Commission and handed over to the new committee.

"Police will continue to assist where they are able in seeking a resolution to this dispute.

"However, the fact that the election result has been challenged is a matter for a civil court."