A British charity is being investigated after it praised assassinated Iranian general Qassem Soleimani as a martyr.

The Islamic Centre of England, a charity with assets of more than £4 million, organised a vigil in London on Saturday to commemorate the warlord.

The event was attended by more than 2,000 people, including Iran’s ambassador to London, The Times reported.

Seyed Moosavi, 51, the charity’s director and the UK representative of Iranian leader Ayatollah Khamenei praised Soleimani as a ‘dedicated soldier of Islam’ who had died at the hands of ‘the most wicked members of the human race’.

The Charity Commission said: ‘We are aware of a vigil... and publications on its website. We will be contacting the charity to seek further information.’

Mourners sit beneath a picture of Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis at the Islamic Centre of England at Maida Vale in Kilburn, at around 5.15pm on Saturday

A large group of men, with some young boys, was seen gathering at the Islamic Centre in Maida Vale, London, on Saturday afternoon following the assassination.

The memorial service was held 25 minutes after a man was arrested outside the centre to prevent the breach of peace and for obstructing officers.

The Islamic Centre's director has reportedly referred to Soleimani as an 'honourable Islamic commander' in a message of condolence.

As the service took place demonstrators took to the streets of New York, Washington DC and London to denounce the violence and call on Trump to de-escalate the conflict.

Outside Downing Street protesters chanted against the war while British-Iranians arrived holding placards that read 'Down with Khamenei' and others raised the pre-Islamic flag of Iran.

Palestinians also burned American flags in Gaza City, while an angry mob set fire to US flags in Pakistan, and around 150 pro-Iranian demonstrators held Iraqi militia flags and condemned the US as an aggressor.

The ceremony came 25 minutes after a man was detained by police outside the Islamic Centre, this evening. It is understood that the incident is not connected to the memorial event

The incident took place before the centre was due to hold a memorial community meeting in memory of Soleimani, at around 4.50pm on Saturday

However, the assassination was also met with celebrations by some groups in Iraq and in Canada, where people were pictured dancing in the street.

Three missiles from an MQ-9 Reaper drone hit the convoy Soleimani was travelling in outside Baghdad International Airport, killing the architect of the country's regional security strategy and five others.

Tehran has reacted angrily to the attack, saying the US's move is tantamount to a 'declaration of war' and promising a 'severe revenge'.