London Outlaws IMCR Following Arson Spree
The United Kingdom government has formally banned the Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right (IMCR) and designated the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a national security threat. The move follows a series of arson attacks on Jewish sites, with Security Minister Angela Eagle confirming Monday that the IMCR acted as a proxy for the IRGC’s Quds Force to direct violence across Europe.
Direct Links to Quds Force Operations
The ban on the IMCR—also known as Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia—follows a string of sabotage incidents. Security Minister Angela Eagle confirmed the group claimed responsibility for seven attacks within the UK, including arson targeting synagogues and Jewish charity ambulances in London. The group also claimed credit for similar synagogue attacks in Belgium and the Netherlands.
“Sitting behind IMCR were members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force, who almost certainly directed IMCR attacks across Europe,” Eagle stated. While the IRGC has faced British sanctions, this new designation expands the legal framework to prosecute those acting on behalf of the Iranian military’s foreign operations branch.
Parliament Targets ‘Thugs for Hire’
New legislation expected to pass by the end of the week will allow for sentences of up to life imprisonment for those committing sabotage on behalf of proscribed proxy groups. Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized that the powers are designed to target “thugs for hire” who facilitate hostile activity for foreign states.
“We have already taken tough action against the Iranian regime and those linked to it, and against Russian operatives and networks targeting our country,” Starmer said. “These new powers will make it easier to prosecute and lock up anyone carrying out their dirty work here in Britain.”
Broadening the Net Against State Proxies
The government has also designated the GRU Volunteer Corps as a national security threat. Controlled by Russia’s military intelligence agency, the group is accused of conducting foreign intelligence collection and covert operations on behalf of the GRU. These designations are supported by a law that took effect last week, granting authorities broader powers to dismantle proxy organizations.
The legal shift follows recent criminal proceedings; earlier this month, two Romanian men were sentenced to prison for the stabbing of a journalist from a Persian-language television station—an act the presiding judge explicitly identified as being carried out on behalf of the Iranian state.
Aligning with Western Security Coalitions
The UK’s move aligns with wider efforts to contain IRGC influence. In January, the European Union listed the Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization, citing Tehran’s internal crackdown on protests. Furthermore, a coalition of 22 nations, including the United States and various European countries, issued a joint statement last month blaming the IRGC and the Quds Force for plotting against journalists, dissidents, and Jewish communities abroad.
There has been no immediate official comment from the Iranian government regarding the new designations.
Keep reading